The Elements of Color: A Treatise on the Color System of Johannes Itten Based on His Book the Art of Color

by Johannes Itten, Ernst van Hagen (Translator), Faber Birren (Editor)

A useful simplification and condensation of Johannes ltten's major work. The Art of Color, this book covers subjective feeling and objective color principles in detail. It presents the key to understanding color in ltten's color circle and color contrasts.

Genres: Art, Design, Nonfiction, Reference, Art Design, Photography, Science

95 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

a Swiss expressionist painter, designer, teacher, writer and theorist associated with the Bauhaus (Staatliche Bauhaus) school. Together with German-American painter Lyonel Feininger and German sculptor Gerhard Marcks, under the direction of German architect Walter Gropius, Itten was part of the core of the Weimar Bauhaus.

Reviews

[surfurbian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good information here on color use. Hits lots of topics that I have seen overlooked by other color theory instruction i.e. artistic process, use of grays, impact of quantity/brilliance/hue in color-to-color relationships.

The book uses many long and detailed descriptions of processes and relationships. These would be better explained by diagrams and images of the processes. The book also references specific works as illustration of particular color use but does not include photos of these works. Adding the diagrams and images would strengthen the book and ease the communication of key concepts.

Philosophically the work is fully immersed in a Modernist school of thought. This is as it should be since the work was written during the heyday of Modernism at the Bauhaus. That said, it is important to keep this in mind while reading the text and critically consider some of the grand narratives and stable meanings that may or may not hold water. This approach will offer the reader the best possible experience.

For all the modernist ideas, there is a tip of the hat given to subjectivity and the need for the artist to develop their own sensibilities. This counterpoint is a seedling for post-modernism and contemporary perspectives.

[Erika Mulvenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parts of this book were completely eye opening for me, and other parts were difficult to understand the first time around. However, I absolutely found it fascinating to see Itten's examples of his history and theory of color in art through listing concrete examples of some of the most famous artist's work through time.

After studying the physics of light and color a little more in-depth, Itten's theories made more sense, and his book became easier to understand.

Finally, I "get it" - even more so now than when I was studying Color Theory as a fine arts student 20+ years ago. A must-read for anyone interested in Color Theory or the history of color in art.

[Azamat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Вероятно, xорошая книга, но все же она ориентирована больше на xудожников, чем на дизайнеров. Различные смешения и сочитания красок сложно удерживать в голове или живо и представлять. Не xватает изображения картин, которые упоминаются в примераx. Можно, конечно, гуглить, но во время чтения будет неудобно.

[Ann Appley · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes, it was a required text at one point, and yes, even art students tend to hate colour theory -- but that doesn't change the fact that this book opened my eyes to so many things about colour that, although simple, were often overlooked.

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dieses Werk stand schon so lange auf meiner Leseliste, dass ich vergessen hatte, wie ich darauf gekommen war. Es muss wohl eine Bauhaus-Ausstellung gewesen sein. Mir war jedoch noch in Erinnerung, dass Itten etwas esoterisch angehaucht war und so etwas wie eine Religion der Farbe predigte.

Davon spürt man in dieser etwas gekürzten Ausgabe seines Hauptwerks kein bisschen. Tatsächlich ist es nüchtern und eingängig geschrieben und sinnvoll illustriert. Ich meine, dass Itten bei seinen Äußerungen zu manchen Alten Meistern versucht, den Farmtheorien ein älteres Fundament zu geben, als sie haben. Zugleich vermittelt das Werk einen einfachen Zugang zur konkreten Kunst aber auch zu Personen, wie Hölzel oder erst Recht Albers.

[Amirhossein · Rating 4 out of 5]

من این کتاب رو به کتاب رنگ ایتن‌ ترجیح می‌دم؛ اونم به این دلیل که بیس نظری این کتاب خیلی منسجم تر و کامل تر از کتاب رنگه. اون کتاب بیشتر مثاله، اما این کتاب بیشتر نظریه است. بنظرم کسایی که می‌خوان ایتن‌ بخونن اول باید این کتاب رو بخونن بعد کتاب رنگ رو.
یه امتیاز کم دادم چون ترجمه جالب نبود و اشتباه تایپی زیاد داشت.

[Siarhei Krukau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Интересные, но слегка ненаучные; порой примитивные, а порой философские; основанные на практическом опыте, но мистические размышления автора о цвете. Любопытны эксперименты - движения мысли - с поиском модели представления всех цветов, особенно теперь, когда в любом графическом редакторе есть все эти RGB, CMYK, HSL, ползунки и цветные градиенты. Практическая часть рассчитана на художников, рисующих кистями и красками, но будет в какой-то мере познавательна и для фотографа на iPhone и для веб-дизайнера.

[Pavel Moiseenko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Иттен последовательно рассказывает о цветовом круге — способе представления всего цветового диапазона из 12 самостоятельных цветов. Затем смешивает эти цвета, показывая, как они друг с другом контрастируют. Книжка Иттена не о том что какие-то цвета гармонично сочетаются, а какие-то нет. Все цвета прекрасно сочетаются, но делают это по разному.

Весь отзыв в бложике: http://pavelmoiseenko.ru/blog/iskusst...

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic text on color theory in abbreviated form.

[Victor Lysenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Сложная для восприятия, но важная информация.

[Karlen Melikyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Внатуре хорошо.

[shmump · Rating 4 out of 5]

mathematischer als gedacht, in a good way
trotzdem oft unüberraschend objektiv subjektiv
prob alb, itt, kan wenns nur um theorie geht
abzüge, weil rot nun wirklich nicht quadratisch ist

[Jean-Sylvain · Rating 4 out of 5]

C’est par l’entremise de Guy Pellerin qui m’a enseigné les arts plastiques au feu Pavillon Mont-Royal de l’UdeM que j’ai découvert L’Art de la Couleur. Nous avions fait des exercices tirés de cet ouvrage, notamment sur les sept contrastes (de qualité, chaud-froid, simultané, etc.) Pour saisir toutes les subtilités et le comportement des couleurs entre elles, nous devons impérativement mélanger les pigments et tremper nos pinceaux ! Dans sa postface à cette édition abrégée Itten écrit : J’ai essayé avec ce livre de construire un véhicule utile qui permette à l’artiste de parcourir un long chemin avec plus de facilité. Mais ce véhicule n’est pas pour autant confortable et ne conviendra guère aux paresseux. Ce livre est exigeant dans ses explications et le lecteur doit faire preuve de rigueur afin d’assimiler son enseignement.

[Farhang Rezaei · Rating 4 out of 5]

خواندن این کتاب به دقیقتر دیدن و حساستر شدن نگاه ما به رنگها و محیط پیرامون کمک شایانی میکند. هر چند به نظر میرسد در ترجمه فارسی، ناشر نهایت امانتداری را در چاپ دستنوشته های مترجم به کار برده و آنها را بی هیچ ویرایشی روانه بازار کرده است.

[Sergey Sarachuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Самая ценная страница - №35: 7 видов контраста

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed bag – I haven't really thought much about color theory since elementary school art classes, so it was useful as a primer, and there are definitely interesting and useful lessons to be learned in here. But the tone of the work irritated me pretty strongly at times. I couldn't shake the feeling that Itten is taking his own subjective experience and dressing it up in the language of science to present it as an unassailable objective truth.

In the right hands, I think this could have been three different and interesting books – a scientific summary of the physics and physiology of color perception, an anthropological study on the psychology of color across individuals and cultures, and a survey of the history and theory of color composition in art – but squishing all three into one grand unified work comes across as a disservice to each of them.

[Sreena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book presents a systematic approach to color theory, exploring the seven color contrasts, the dynamics of color interaction, and the transformative power of complementary colors.

Best Part
What I really really loved about this book is how Johannes addresses the profound connection between color and human psychology. He delves into the psychological effects of color, demonstrating how certain hues can evoke specific emotions or influence our perceptions. Itten's brilliant analysis unveils the interplay of hues, their harmonies, contrasts, and emotional resonances. This deeper exploration adds a layer of complexity to the study of color, enabling artists and designers to harness its expressive potential more effectively.

If you love painting, photography, what not, creating websites or infographics - This is a must read!

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Elements of Color by Faber Birren, A Treatise on the color system of Johannes Itten based on his book The Art of Color, Germany, , reading Aug.-Oct., 2018. Very in depth information, slow absorption and note taking. Notes to page 28. Page 43: want to make 12 steps of gray from white to black and 12 hues of the color circle in matching brilliances. Page 67: Make Color Sphere 12 pointed color star. Each pure color is tinted in 2 steps to white and shaded in 2 steps to black.

[Jason Baldauf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A distilled and more approachable version of Itten's seminal The Art of Color. The extensive topics covered include color physics, timbre, the color circle, the seven color contrasts, harmony, form, spatial effects and composition. Probably the best book encompassing the subject, hands down better than Joseph Alber's Interaction of Color.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weird and wonderful, sometimes objectionable. I found this book very difficult to read and understand at points, but it truly opened my eyes to certain aspects of color that I couldn’t previously articulate.

[Kevin Driskill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for understanding color. Itten is very in-depth in his thinking and theorizing on color this shorter work (which is based on the larger "Art of Color"). This book covers many topics including the 7 contrasts famously described by Itten. A great read.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was used as the curriculum way back in the 70s when I took my color theory class. I found it amazing how much stayed with me all these years. Definitely a must for all artists' bookshelf (after reading it, of course).

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very informative little book. It pulls the basics of color theory from Ittens longer "The Art of Color". It can be a bit difficult to get through as it is technical and quite dry. The first time I read it was in college but I go back to it every once in awhile.

[Naoki Onodera · Rating 5 out of 5]

The color theory bible wrote by a former Bauhaus professor. A Text book approach color in science/physics and references from old masterpieces. His minimal and straight to the point practice often implement details in a quality of art.

[Sosse Georgine Parvula Serpenti]

"Een lichtblond type moet onderwerpen schilderen als: lente, kleuterschool, doop ... zomermorgen in de tuin enzovoort.
... Opgaven voor een donker type zouden kunnen zijn: nacht, begrafenis, droefheid, negerband enzovoort."

Hou op met me 😭😭

[AURELIEDJE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used it in class when i was a teacher!

[Spencer Linton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good technically, dense & dry

[Fabio TurboLangs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not an easy book to digest. But a must for any artist or graphic designer.

[Costanza Riello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un grande libro che è alla base di tutta la conoscenza sul colore

[Maria Bache · Rating 4 out of 5]

a mixture of science, observations and conjecture. A series about the Bauhaus school portrayed Johannes Itten as a rather odd man with very strong views. Judging from this book, it was very loyal.