The Magic of the Color Blue in Art
- Feb 24
- 4 min read
By Andrea Steinbauer
While visiting an exhibition on storytelling in Old German and Old Dutch art, I noticed most of the paintings on display had one thing in common: the use of the color blue. This realization inspired me to dig deeper into why this primary color is so special.
In color psychology, blue stands for harmony and happiness. According to scientific studies, it has a calming effect on the human nervous system and can help to reduce stress. In rooms, blue creates a sense of well-being and a relaxing atmosphere.
Furthermore, various studies have shown that blue is the most popular color worldwide among both women and men. It reminds us of the boundless expanse of the sky and the depth of the ocean; it awakens longing and inspires dreams.
Historically, the use of blue pigments became increasingly important in European painting during the 15th century, when artists began to depict the Virgin Mary in a blue robe. Images of Mary were one the most popular subjects of the Renaissance and were particularly valued as icons for private devotion by the wealthy Christian bourgeoisie. As a result, blue became a royal color and a symbol of the divine heaven, infinity and immortality, as the colors gold or purple had been before.
For centuries, blue pigments like the precious lapis lazuli were amongst the most exclusive colors on the palette of European artists due to the rarity of the natural minerals and the difficulty of mining them. Both artists and their patrons had to be able to afford the use of these expensive pigments in their paintings. It was only with the development of synthetic blue in the early 18th century that the color became affordable and available to a wider audience, leading to its widespread use.
For artists of any era in art history, from ancient Egypt to the digital age, the use of blue was and still is an important tool of expressing their vision. Today, artists have a wide range of different shades of blue at their disposal. Some of the most popular blue pigments in oil paint are listed below. Though the paints may differ in their properties depending on the manufacturer, the main characteristics are the same.
Prussian Blue (Berlin Blue)
Pigment PB 27: dark blue, transparent, high tinting strength
Prussian Blue, often referred to as Berlin Blue, was the first synthetic blue, developed in Germany in 1706, and quickly gained popularity amongst European artists of the time. Japanese artists also liked to use the pigment in their ink, including Hokusai who used Prussian Blue in his famous blue wave. Besides its transparency and high tinting strength, a special property of this blue is its dark value.
Cobalt Containing Pigments
Cobalt Blue, Pigment PB 28: blue, opaque, low tinting strength
Cerulean Blue, Pigment PB 35: greenish-blue, opaque, low tinting strength
There are various blue pigments that contain compounds of the metal cobalt. The most popular ones today are Cobalt Blue (Thénards Blue), a cobalt aluminate developed in France in the 19th century; and the greenish-blue called Cerulean Blue, a cobalt stannate. Both differ from most other blue colors, because they are opaque and have a low tinting strength.
French Impressionist like Manet, Monet and Renoir favored these blues in their paintings. However, paints containing cobalt are expensive, and it should also be noted that the metal is toxic if inhaled or ingested. For this reason, some artists avoid using these blues. I like to use Cerulean Blue in landscape paintings, because it works very well to mix sky colors that shine beautifully but also look natural and not too intense.
Ultramarine Blue
Pigment PB 29: red-blue, transparent, high tinting strength
Lapis lazuli, a mineral found in Afghanistan, is the natural form of Ultramarine and the most expensive blue. Traditionally, it was weighed in gold and its use was usually regulated by contract. Renaissance artists such as Botticelli, Giotto or Albrecht Durer appreciated the precious pigment to give their paintings a special expression, as did Baroque painter Vermeer. In the 19th century, synthetic Ultramarine (called French Ultramarine), which is chemically identical to the natural lapis lazuli, was developed in France. The once expensive pigment became affordable, quickly gained popularity, and is one of the most commonly used blues by contemporary artists. Ultramarine Blue has a red shade, is transparent, and has a high tinting strength.
French Ultramarine is my favorite blue. It is an essential color on my palette, and I use it to mix cool and neutral skin tones. In a mixture with Transparent Oxide Red it produces my favorite black, and I like to use it to mix my greens.
Phthalocyanine Blue
Pigment PB 15, bright blue, transparent, high tinting strength
Developed in the 20th century, Phthalocyanine Blue is a modern, organic pigment, which is relatively new on artist’s palettes. The intense blue pigment is transparent and has a high tinting strength. Variations in red and green shade are available.
With the vast array of contemporary pigments available to artists, we can use the emotions associated with the color blue to create a powerful corresponding mood in our artwork. Which blue will you try out next?
Footnotes:
The images of historical artworks by Botticelli and Manet are photos I took.
The example of the use of French Ultramarine Blue is my artwork.
The example for Phthalocyanine Blue “Golden Ocean Reflections - Shark” is a painting from Alexandra Telgmann, a member of our European PSoA community. Alexandra gave me the image for the article.
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