THE QUEEN OF ALL COLOURS?

Renoir once said “I have been 40 years discovering that the queen of all colours was black”. 


His ancestors, may thousands years before, might have been among those early creative humans that made the cave paintings in Lascaux, using charcoal as a base for black pigment, alongside other basic colours, like ochre.


Closer to the Christian year zero, we see Greek artists decorating plates and vases with dominantly black silhouettes, while the Chinese used black ink for drawings and calligraphy.


The Chinese were true specialists when it comes to the use of black ink: it offered remarkable versatility through its range of tones and textures. With just ink and water, artists could create an entire spectrum from the deepest black to the most ethereal grey. This technical capability aligned perfectly with the philosophical and aesthetic principle that black ink alone could capture the essential spirit of a subject more effectively than colour. The art form's deep connection to calligraphy, which was revered as the highest form of artistic expression and employed the same materials, further elevated its cultural significance. These artistic and philosophical advantages were complemented by practical benefits - ink was relatively inexpensive to produce, simple to store, and demonstrated exceptional longevity, making it an ideal medium that stood the test of time.


Black is a colour rich in symbolism, often embodying dualities such as life and death, power and submission, or mystery and clarity, depending on the cultural context. We connect it to darkness, death, mourning; on the other hand, we see it as a colour of elegance and luxury - black limousines, tuxedos, or packaging for premium consumer goods.


When it comes to the negative connotations - crows and other black birds were seen as harbingers of bad luck. This belief extends to the colour black itself, which can symbolise the presence of evil spirits or misfortune. Seeing black crows or ravens were interpreted as an ill omen. But then again, in Norse mythology, Odin's ravens Huginn and Muninn were highly respected as sources of wisdom and knowledge. In some cultures like many Native American traditions, ravens and crows were seen as trickster figures or even creators rather than purely negative omens.





Sober yet expensive



The Protestant Reformation, which began in the early 16th century, brought about significant changes in religious practices and beliefs across Europe. One of the key tenets of Protestantism was a move away from the extravagance often associated with the Catholic Church. Protestants emphasised modesty, simplicity, and piety. 


Black, as a colour, came to symbolise these values. It was seen as a rejection of the bright, luxurious colours that had been favoured by the Catholic clergy and nobility. Instead of wearing elaborate, colourful garments, Protestants, especially the wealthy Dutch, chose to wear black as a sign of their religious devotion, humility, and seriousness.


But while black clothing symbolised modesty, it was also a marker of wealth and status; high-quality black dyes were very expensive and difficult to produce. Achieving a deep, rich black colour required advanced dyeing techniques and costly ingredients, making black garments a luxury item.


The ability to wear black clothing showed that one could afford these expensive dyes. Thus, black became a fashionable colour among the wealthy, not only for its religious connotations but also for its association with affluence and social status; power, wealth.





Tulipomania



Those 17th century Dutch, in their Golden Age, with all their money; how desperately they tried to create a black impossibility. A Black Tulip was something so rare and so wanted, it would bring its creator vast fortunes. During the height of Tulip Mania (1636-1637), the darkest tulips like "Semper Augustus" - which was deep purple with white streaks - commanded astronomical prices. One bulb reportedly sold for 6,000 guilders, when a skilled craftsman's annual wage was about 300 guilders.


Tulips were their dotcom-bubble, their NFT. Tulip Mania is perhaps the most famous historical example of this kind of speculation bubble. At its peak, single tulip bulbs were selling for more than the price of luxury houses in Amsterdam. The market then dramatically collapsed, through government intervention, in 1637, with tulip prices falling to about 1% of their peak value.






Le Petite Robe



It was Coco Chanel, who is the author of the revolutionary creation of the Little Black Dress - "Le Petite Robe".


In 1926, Chanel introduced a short black dress, which was simple and practical, yet extremely stylish. Its popularity soared after a famous photograph of it appeared in Vogue magazine, and it was soon seen as an essential piece in a woman's wardrobe. Before Chanel's creation, black clothing was associated mainly with mourning or was considered unsuitable for daytime wear. However, Chanel's vision was different—she sought to make black a colour of sophistication and chique styl


In modern marketing and design, black is used in several sophisticated ways:


Black is used strategically in product design to create visual illusions. The "slimming" effect of black is used not just in fashion but also in product design - think of how TVs and monitors often have black bezels to make them appear thinner and less obtrusive.


In luxury branding, black is a dominant colour choice. Think of premium brands like Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, or Black Label products - they use black to convey sophistication, exclusivity, and quality.


Additionally, black packaging is commonly used to target male consumers. Dominating presence of black resonates with traditional notions of masculinity and strength. Products aimed specifically at men such as grooming items, dietary supplements, or personal care products often adopt black packaging to reinforce an identity that is both strong and straightforward.


Thus, in modern packaging design, black functions as a powerful tool, communicating clearly and effectively to distinct consumer groups.


Minimalist design often relies heavily on black and white, following the "less is more" principle. Companies like Nike and Adidas frequently use bold black designs in their marketing to convey strength and simplicity.


But then again, without light, there would be only black. And we would swiftly start to dislike it!