Josef Albers' "Interaction of Colour" presents a practical, experimental method for artists, teachers, and students to develop a sensitivity to color through hands-on exercises. The book's central argument is that true understanding and appreciation of color arise not solely from theoretical optics but from direct, practical engagement and discovery. Albers, drawing on his teaching at the Bauhaus and later at Yale, emphasizes the development of a "practical thinking" where creativity is fueled by experiment and observation.
This seminal work, first published in 1963, offers a structured yet stimulating approach to understanding how colors interact and affect one another. Readers gain a refined eye for light and hue through carefully selected color plates and Albers' pedagogical approach, which has made the book a foundational text in color study for decades. The updated edition continues this tradition with an expanded selection of plates illustrating Albers' principles.
Key concepts
- Theory of Colour — The specific color theories developed by Albers during his teaching career.
- Practical Thinking — A mode of thinking fostered by experimentation and discovery, integral to creative processes.
- Sensitivity to Light and Tones — The developed visual acumen for discerning subtle variations in light and hue.
- Interaction of Colour — The core concept demonstrating how colors influence each other when juxtaposed.