A thought-provoking read for color enthusiasts and experts alike, and an accessible route to a new way of seeing color. Features a Foreword by renowned physicist Arthur Zajonc.

Color is everywhere. From blue skies to red sunsets, from the first flowers in spring to the blazing leaves of fall. But what is the nature of color? Scientific books present a variety of mechanical explanations but this approach leaves color as a whole unexplained. In the nineteenth century, the German poet and scientist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe investigated a wide range of color phenomena and discovered the underlying principles that govern color itself.

This lavishly illustrated book brings Goethe's pioneering research up to date. Through descriptions of simple observations and ingenious experiments, the reader will discover a series of color phenomena that includes afterimages, colored shadows, color mixing, and prismatic and polarization colors.