The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-09-09
Color.


To color we are indebted for one of
our greatest pleasures. Deprive the
world of color, and where would be the
glory of the skies. the beauty of the
earth, and the creation of the artists
brush? Where, indeed, would be the
beauty of the whole vast world of crea-
ted things and the lesser but equally
gorgeous world of art?
When the mandate went forth, "Let
there be light" color was also called
into being. 1t is to light we owe color,
which creates and modifes it. A
Frenchman gave as reason for his
success in making superior carmine
that he made it on bright days, thus
showing the effect of light on color.
When light falls on a body and is
completely absorbed by it we cali it
black, and yet no body absorbs light so
completely as to be absolutely black.
The blacklist polished objects are capa-
BILE of rejecting light, and all black
bodies reflect small quantity of light.
Color is modified by the rays which
fall upon it. When red falls on black it
turns purple-black; when it falls upon
white it makes it appear red; falling
on yellow it produces orange; and on
light blue, violet. Yellow falling on
black makes yellow olive; on red,
orange; and IN blue, yellow green.
Blue falling on red produces violet, and
blue OH yellow makes green. Violet
on green produces purple, and on or
ange light red.
There are seven primary colors-
red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo
and violet. In the theory of painting
there are only three-blue, yellow and
red. When two primary colors are
mixed they form a secondly; blue AID
yellow, being primaries, when mixed
form green, viii h is q secondary color.
There is law of harmony which
governs color, the same as there is
law of harmony which governs music; ;
and if this law was better understo d
there would not be so much bad taste
displayed, especially in the matter Of
ladies' dress. Harmony of color is not
a mere matter Of taste, but is governed
by the rules of art. While some ma
tons have understood better than others
harmony of color, the Italians have
been in this respect pre- eminentiy dis
tinguished. A want of harmonious ar
rangement in colors affects the eye as
disagreeably as a want of harmony in
music affects the ear. A lady whose
blue bonnet is trimmed with violet
colored ribbons, or who wears q yellow
dress with red fringe, violates to
great degree the rules which govern
harmony ii color.
While the appreciation of color de-
ponds somewhat on the physical power
of the eye, by careful study of the
laws of harmonious coloring bad taste
may in q measure be avoided. Some
persons have what is called good eye
for colors, while some eyes are very
defective in this respect. There are
persons who are color blind" being
utterly unable to distinguish one color
from another.
White is favorable to all colors, and
when two inharmonious colors are
placed together the bad effect can be
modified by separating them with white.
All the primary colors gain by gray;
gray and green and gray and orange
are harmonious colors. The green of
the vegetable kingdom would not be
10 harmony with the blue of the sky
but for the intervening neutral gray
which prevails In nature.
The proper contrasting color of red
is green, yet there are other colors
with which red is in harmony. While
red and orange are decidedly bad to-
gether, red and blue, especially if the
red is more of a scarlet than crimson,
show q very pleasing contrast. Red
and violet are not considered an har-
monious combination, yet Nature, who
violates no rule of beauty, has thrown
these colors together on the sweet pea
with pleasing effect.
While colors suffer or improve from
| iuxtaposition, the human face may be
said to do the same when placed in
juxtaposition with colors. Ladies who
desire to appear well should carefully
study color as applied to personal
adornment. Black bonnets, for in
lance, are becoming to fair complex
tions; so are light blue and straw-color.
There is light green which can be
worn by golden-haired blondes with
pleasing effect. and also delicate vio-
let, although there are some shades
which impart a greenish yellow to the
skin. Pink red causes a rosy complex
ton to lose its brilliancy, and when
worn should be separated from the
face by white tulle; cark red, on the
contrary, improves the white of the
skin. Pink suits brunettes, who should
never wear black bonnets, however,
without an inside trimming of white
tulle, or red or rose-colored flowers.