Red is a color deeply rooted in the human psyche, and connected to the most powerful emotions, love and hate. This gallery is to display the contrasting feelings this single color can produce. The Scream, Edvard Munch, 1910, From the collection of: The Munch Museum, Oslo While the facial expression in this piece could be taken for either fear or excitement, it is the red in the sky and on the walkway that helps clarify that the subject is in distress. The Holy Family, Martin Schongauer, 1480/1490, From the collection of: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien Here red is used as the brightest color in the scene and draws attention to the woman, making her more intimate and relevant than the gentleman in the background. In this scene the use of red is obvious, the blood everywhere makes this a violent and aggressive work. RED, Choi, Jeonghwa, 2011, From the collection of: Korean Art Museum Association Here red is the only color besides shades of grey, making it a stark contrast and much more captivating to the eye. Red Yamari flanked by Virupa and Dombi Heruka, 17th century, From the collection of: Rubin Museum of Art The red here is the color of the characters expressing anger and helps to emphasize that emotion. The Mass of Saint Gregory the Great, Master of Portillo, early 16th century, From the collection of: Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest The red in this scene is used to show people of power and make them more visible as well as seeming more passionate. Self-Portrait, Kaita Murayama, Taisho period, dated 1918, From the collection of: Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts Muyarama's choice to use red as the primary color for his portrait gives this piece grittier feel. The Mourning Mary Magdalene, Colijn de Coter, ca. 1500, From the collection of: Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest The only red in this image is that in her sleeves, putting more emphasis on the gesture of mourning Mary is doing with her hands. Lady in red, József Rippl-Rónai (1861 - 1927), Lazarine Baudrion (1865 - 1947), 1898, From the collection of: Museum of Applied Arts, Budapest The position of the woman's hips as well as the viewing angle are both to show her beauty and curves, which the red dress helps to convey. Red Engine, Sándor Bortnyik (1883–1976), 1918, From the collection of: Hungarian National Museum Here red is used to give the piece a warm overall tone, where as another color could not. (Main View), From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum Again we can see the use of red in blood to convey a violent act taking place, but it is also used to show that the character catching Jesus cares greatly about him. Here the red dress makes the woman pop and stand out of the background, drawing attention to her and making her more ascetically pleasing. Saint John the Evangelist Weeping, Colijn de Coter, ca. 1500, From the collection of: Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest Again red is used to show an important religious figure and represent his power and authority. Dancing Red Ganapati of the Three Red Deities, 15th-16th century, From the collection of: Rubin Museum of Art The red here is used to create the illusion of movement, particularly where the red and blue come together in the jagged pattern around the character, reminiscent of fire. Red Mark, Villoria, Ana, 2006/2006, From the collection of: Universidad Pública de Navarra In the final image of this gallery, we have an example of the most recognizable universal symbols of love and passion, the heart. Red with the color of the life giving blood that runs through it. Credits: All media This user gallery has been created by an independent third party and may not represent the views of the institutions whose collections include the featured works or of Google Arts & Culture. Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts Hungarian National Museum Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest Museum of Applied Arts, Budapest Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery The J. Paul Getty Museum Korean Art Museum Association Rubin Museum of Art The Munch Museum, Oslo Universidad Pública de Navarra
As a seasoned art enthusiast with a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay of colors in visual arts, particularly the psychological and emotional impact of red, I'd like to delve into the rich tapestry of concepts explored in the user-created gallery featuring various artworks.
The selection of artworks underscores the profound influence of red as a color deeply embedded in the human psyche, evoking contrasting emotions such as love and hate. Let's dissect the key concepts:
-
The Scream, Edvard Munch, 1910 (The Munch Museum, Oslo):
- The red in the sky and on the walkway serves as a visual cue, clarifying the distressed emotion of the subject.
-
The Holy Family, Martin Schongauer, 1480/1490 (Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien):
- Red is employed as the brightest color, drawing attention to the woman and creating intimacy, contrasting her significance with the gentleman in the background.
-
RED, Choi, Jeonghwa, 2011 (Korean Art Museum Association):
- In this piece, red is the sole color amid shades of grey, creating a stark contrast and enhancing visual appeal.
-
Red Yamari flanked by Virupa and Dombi Heruka, 17th century (Rubin Museum of Art):
- The red here symbolizes anger, emphasizing the emotional state of the characters in the artwork.
-
The Mass of Saint Gregory the Great, Master of Portillo, early 16th century (Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest):
- Red is strategically used to highlight individuals of power, making them more visible and passionate.
-
Self-Portrait, Kaita Murayama, Taisho period, dated 1918 (Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts):
- The artist's choice of red as the primary color imparts a grittier feel to the portrait, enhancing its character.
-
The Mourning Mary Magdalene, Colijn de Coter, ca. 1500 (Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest):
- Red in the sleeves accentuates the gesture of mourning, adding emphasis to Mary's actions.
-
Lady in red, József Rippl-Rónai (1861 - 1927), Lazarine Baudrion (1865 - 1947), 1898 (Museum of Applied Arts, Budapest):
- The red dress is utilized to highlight the woman's beauty and curves, enhancing the overall aesthetic presentation.
-
Red Engine, Sándor Bortnyik (1883–1976), 1918 (Hungarian National Museum):
- Red imparts a warm tone to the piece, showcasing its significance in setting the overall mood.
-
(Main View), From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum:
- Red is employed to convey a violent act, but also to highlight the caring relationship between characters, adding depth to the narrative.
-
Saint John the Evangelist Weeping, Colijn de Coter, ca. 1500 (Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest):
- Red is used to symbolize the importance of the religious figure, representing power and authority.
-
Dancing Red Ganapati of the Three Red Deities, 15th-16th century (Rubin Museum of Art):
- Red creates an illusion of movement, particularly in the dynamic pattern around the character, reminiscent of fire.
-
Red Mark, Villoria, Ana, 2006/2006 (Universidad Pública de Navarra):
- The red heart symbolizes universal themes of love and passion, with red representing the life-giving blood.
This curated collection showcases the versatility of red in conveying a spectrum of emotions, from distress and violence to intimacy, power, and passion. The artists' deliberate use of red as a dominant or accentuating element underscores its pivotal role in shaping the emotional narratives within each artwork.
