Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Goethe termed 'Purpur' (Goethe,
1810
, p. 228). Thus, in addition to the
primitive white and black, Goethe acknowledged the development of
six different basic colours and, of course, innumerable colours resulting
from their combinations.
The colour theory of Goethe is best illustrated by his famous
colour circle as shown in
Fig. 4.1
.
Thus, Goethe, like Newton, presented the different colour
qualities on the circumference of a circle. The green colour was located
between yellow and blue, violet between blue and red, and orange
between red and yellow (Goethe,
1810
, p. 287). Also, by a rotating
diameter in the circle, he could determine all opponent colours by the
two extremes of the diameter. Yet, in the final analysis, Goethe reduced
all the opponent colours to three basic ones: yellow and red-blue; blue
and red-yellow; pure red ('Purpur') and green (Goethe,
1810
, p. 258).
Goethe stressed that one should perform the basic experiments
oneself in order to obtain an understanding of the fundamental laws of
colour phenomena. A deeper understanding of the opponent character
of colour phenomena, for instance, could be attained by experiments
on successive contrast. Pre-stimulation with, for example, blue,
yellow or green would generate, respectively, orange, violet and pure
red ('Purpur') contrast colours when the eye was test stimulated with
an achromatic, neutral light (Goethe,
1810
, pp. 44-45).
Goethe also held that the basic laws governing the colour
phenomena were, under most conditions, completely concealed by
more superficial factors. The many factors that may influence the
colour of the human skin, for instance, made it impossible to see the
fundamental processes involved. Nevertheless, he held that careful
observation of certain fundamental colour appearances within each
of the three colour domains would lend support to his colour theory.
4.3 Goethe's contribution
Of course, Goethe was aware of the fact that his colour theory was,
to a great extent, a product of previous thinking. Thus, a concept
of colour opponency had already, long ago been developed by Greek
