Theory of Colours


Newton's observations on the optical spectrum were widely accepted but Goethe noticed the difference between the scientific explanation and the phenomena as experienced by the human eye. He did not try to explain this, but rather collected and presented data, conducting experiments on the interplay of light and dark. His work was rejected as 'unscientific' by physicists but his color wheel is still used by artists today. - Summary by Lynne Thompson (8 hr 58 min)

Chapters

Translator's Preface and Preface to the First Edition
Introduction
Part I - Physiological Colours Section 1 - Effects of Light and Dark on the Eye
Section II - Effects of Black and White Objects on the Eye
Section III - Grey Surfaces and Objects; Section IV - Dazzling Colourless Objec…
Section V - Coloured Objects
Section VI - Coloured Shadows
Section VII - Faint Lights; Section VIII - Subjective Halos
Pathological Colours - Appendix
Part 2 - Physical Colours - Section IX - Diotropical Colours
Section X - Diotropical Colours of the First Class
Section XI - Diotropical Colours of the Second Class - Refraction
Subjective Experiments - Section XII - Refraction Without the Appearance of Col…
Section XIV - Conditions Under Which the Appearance of Colour Increases
Section XV - Explanation of the Foregoing Phenomena
Section XVI - Decrease of the Appearance of Colour; Section XVII - Grey Objects…
Section XVIII - Coloured Objects Displaced by Refraction
Section XIX - Achromatism and Hyperchromatism; Section XX - Advantages of Subje…
Objective Experiments - Section XXI - Refraction Without the Appearance of Colo…
Section XXIII - Conditions of the Increase of Colour; Section XXIV - Explanatio…
Section XXV - Decrease of the Appearance of Colour; Section XXVI - Grey Objects…
Section XXIX - Combination of Subjective and Objective Experiments; Section XXX…
Section XXXI - Catatropical Colours
Section XXXII - Paroptical Colours
Section XXXIII - Epoptical Colours
Part III - Chemical Colours - Section XXXIV - Chemical Contrast
Section XXXV - White; Section XXXVI - Black; Section XXXVII - First Excitation …
Section XXXVIII - Augmentation of Colour; Section XXXIX - Culmination; Section …
Section XLII - Inversion; Section XLIII - Fixation; Section XLIV - Intermixture…
Section XLVI - Communication, Actual; Section XLVII - Communication, Apparent
Section XLVIII - Extraction; Section XLIX - Nomenclature
Section L - Minerals; Section LI - Plants
Section LII - Worms, Insects, Fishes; Section LIII - Birds
Section LIV - Mammalia and Human Beings
Section LV - Physical and Chemical Effects of the Transmission of Light Through…
Part IV - General Characteristics
Part V - Relation to Other Pursuits
Part VI - Effect of Colour With Reference to Moral Associations; Yellow; Red-Ye…
Completeness and Harmony; Yellow and Blue; Yellow and Red; Blue and Red; Yellow…
Aesthetic Influence; Chiaro-Scuro; Tendency to Colour; Keeping; Colour in Gener…
Harmonious Colouring; Genuine Tone; False Tone; Weak Colouring; The Motley; Dre…
Allegorical, Symbolic, Mystical Application of Color; Concluding Observations