Yellow : : The History of a Color / / Michel Pastoureau.

• VerfasserIn: Pastoureau, Michel,
• MitwirkendeR: Gladding, Jody,
• Place / Publishing House: Princeton, NJ : : Princeton University Press, , [2023]; ©2019
• Year of Publication: 2023
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (240 p.) :; 135 color illus.

From the acclaimed author of Blue, a beautifully illustrated history of yellow from antiquity to the presentIn this richly illustrated book, Michel Pastoureau—a renowned authority on the history of color and the author of celebrated volumes on blue, black, green, and red—now traces the visual, social, and cultural history of yellow. Focusing on European societies, with comparisons from East Asia, India, Africa, and South America, Yellow tells the intriguing story of the color’s evolving place in art, religion, fashion, literature, and science.In Europe today, yellow is a discreet color, little present in everyday life and rarely carrying great symbolism. This has not always been the case. In antiquity, yellow was almost sacred, a symbol of light, warmth, and prosperity. It became highly ambivalent in medieval Europe: greenish yellow came to signify demonic sulfur and bile, the color of forgers, lawless knights, Judas, and Lucifer—while warm yellow recalled honey and gold, serving as a sign of pleasure and abundance. In Asia, yellow has generally had a positive meaning. In ancient China, yellow clothing was reserved for the emperor, while in India the color is associated with happiness. Above all, yellow is the color of Buddhism, whose temple doors are marked with it.Throughout, Pastoureau illuminates the history of yellow with a wealth of captivating images. With its striking design and compelling text, Yellow is a feast for the eye and mind.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Contents -- INTRODUCTION -- A BENEFICIAL COLOR (FROM EARLIEST TIMES TO THE FIFTH CENTURY) -- Introduction -- THE OCHERS OF THE PALEOLITHIC PERIOD -- THE YELLOW METAL -- MYTHOLOGIES OF GOLD -- SUN WORSHIP -- DYEING IN YELLOW -- DRESSING IN YELLOW -- THE CLODIUS AFFAIR -- THE LESSONS OF THE LEXICON -- THE SILENCE OF THE BIBLE AND THE CHURCH FATHERS -- AN AMBIGUOUS COLOR (SIXTH TO FIFTEENTH CENTURIES) -- Introduction -- THE ABSENCE OF YELLOW IN CHRISTIAN WORSHIP -- YELLOW IN HERALDRY -- AN AMBIVALENT SYMBOLISM -- THE PRESTIGE OF BLOND HAIR -- BILE AND URINE -- ENVY, LYING, AND TREACHERY -- THE ROBES OF JAN HUS AND OF JUDAS -- THE ORIGINS OF THE YELLOW STAR? -- AN UNPOPULAR COLOR (FOURTEENTH T O TWENTY-FIRST CENTURIES) -- Introduction -- THE YELLOW OF PAINTERS -- THE YELLOW OF SCHOLARS -- YELLOW IN DAILY LIFE -- DICTIONARIES AND ENCYCLOPEDIAS -- THE EAST COMES INTO FASHION -- DISCRETION, TRANSGRESSION, AND MODERNITY -- ON THE MARGIN OF YELLOW: ORANGE -- ON THE ATHLETIC FIELDS -- YELLOW FOR THE PRESENT DAY -- NOTES -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- CREDITS