An evolving palette
Believe it or not, white used to be a dangerous color: 10 colors’ stories
Published on March 30, 2025
Credit: Steve Johnson
What would life be like without color? Since ancient times, humanity has been captivated by colors, making great efforts to replicate them—first on the rough walls of caves, then on canvases, and eventually on everything we create. Though colors are simply _tricks of the light_—wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum—we’ve assigned deep meanings to them. These hues, in both bold contrasts and subtle shades, have shaped our cultures throughout history. Yet, just like language, their meanings have evolved. From pink once symbolizing masculinity to the concept of color as camouflage, the story of color is rich and ever-changing.
Red
Credit: Joia de Jong
Red is, in more ways than one, the first color. In most languages, it is the first color named after black and white. It also happens to be the earliest pigment used by humans in art—prehistoric cave paintings from 75,000 years ago already feature red ochre, a pigment derived from clay. Red is also the first color a baby sees in the womb, and in nature, it frequently serves as a warning signal, used by animals and plants to deter predators.
Given its significance, it’s no surprise that red is one of the most popular colors in the world, carrying diverse meanings across different cultures. In many Asian cultures, red is associated with happiness and good fortune, while in most Western countries, it is strongly linked to love, passion, and danger. Throughout the twentieth century, it has also been adopted by various political movements as a symbol of strength and independence.
Blue
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In ancient times, blue was not recognized as a distinct color in many languages, including Greek, Chinese, and Hebrew, where it was seen as an extension of green. And even today, languages like Korean and Thai still blur the line between blue and green.
Nowadays, blue is the most popular color worldwide, often associated with calmness due to its connection with the sky and water. Curiously, its calming effects seem to extend beyond symbolism; studies from Japan and Scotland have shown that blue streetlights can reduce crime rates. Also, blue can convey a sense of sadness, as seen in the phrase "feeling blue," a connection likely rooted in its association with water and, by extension, tears.
Pink
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Though pink has been described in literature since ancient times —a famous passage from Homer describes a _"rosy-fingered" dawn_— it didn’t have a proper name until the late 17th century. Nowadays, its soft hue is strongly associated with femininity, but this was not always the case.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, pink was actually considered more suitable for boys, viewed as a youthful version of masculine red, while blue was linked to girls due to its association with the Virgin Mary. Although its gender associations have since reversed, pink remains widely associated with charm, tenderness, and romance, according to various surveys.
Black
Credit: Jimmy Ofisia
While black might sometimes be described as the absence of color, in practice it has always been an important part of humanity’s palette. In fact, black has a long history, dating back to prehistoric cave paintings, where it was derived from charcoal, burnt bones, and manganese oxide.
While black often symbolizes death, fear, or sadness, it has also represented mystery and divine wisdom. By the 1300s, it was associated with authority and status, worn by royalty, clergy, and officials throughout Europe. In the 1800s, it gained favor among poets and businessmen, and since then, it has remained one of the most popular colors in fashion, likely due to its versatility and association with elegance.
White
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Surprisingly, for many centuries white was a somewhat dangerous color due to its most popular pigment—Lead White—being derived from basic lead carbonate, a highly toxic compound. Despite this, the pigment was used extensively in paint and even cosmetics until it was finally banned in 1978.
Historically, white has symbolized purity and virtue, particularly in religious and cultural ceremonies. Roman brides wore white tunics over 2,000 years ago to signify virginity, and Queen Victoria’s white wedding gown in 1840 set the trend for modern bridal wear. However, in many Asian cultures, white represents mourning and is worn at funerals instead of weddings.
Green
Credit: Becca Lavin
Green is commonly associated with nature, but it has a darker side, linked to concepts like envy, illness, and poison. One of its most infamous examples is Scheele’s Green, a pigment invented in 1775 by Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele, which contained arsenic. This toxic pigment was used in various applications, including wallpaper, and it is believed to have contributed to the death of Napoleon Bonaparte, whose room was decorated with it.
Historically, green symbolizes not only the natural world but also wisdom. The ancient Egyptians associated green with the god Thoth, who guided souls to eternal life and knowledge, a connection later adopted by the Romans with their god Mercury. The word "green" itself derives from the Proto-Indo-European word "ghre," meaning "grow," highlighting its connection to nature and growth.
Purple
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Purple has long been associated with royalty and wealth, primarily due to the exorbitant cost of the dye used to create it. This tradition dates back to the Byzantine Empire, where Tyrian purple, derived from sea snails, required over 250,000 snails to produce just one ounce of dye. This tedious process made purple fabrics accessible only to the elite, and in some cases, sumptuary laws further restricted its use among non-nobility.
It wasn’t until the invention of a synthetic purple dye in 1856 that the color became widely available. Today, purple is the second most favorite color among women worldwide and is a fashionable hue worn year-round. Interestingly, despite its associations with wealth and power, the color appears in very few national flags, including those of Dominica, Spain, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Mexico.
Orange
Credit: Rachid Oucharia
Curiously, oranges are not named after the color; rather, the color takes its name from the fruit! Before the 1500s, the color orange didn’t have a name and was referred to as yellow-red or saffron. This color was often reserved for nobility, and it is said that Dutch farmers bred orange carrots—previously, most carrots were actually purple—as a tribute to the House of Orange, one of the most powerful royal families in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Today, orange is recognized for its high visibility, making it a practical choice for safety equipment like life jackets, construction barriers, and road signage. One famous example of this application is the Golden Gate Bridge, painted in a shade known as "International Orange" to ensure strong contrast against blue skies. In India and the Middle East, orange is also associated with mourning and sacredness.
Khaki
Credit: Jasmine Yu
Khaki is often utilized by militaries around the world for uniforms, particularly in arid regions where it blends seamlessly with sandy or dusty terrain. The term itself has been part of the English language since 1848, derived from an Urdu word meaning "soil-colored," and was originally introduced as a military color by the British Army.
Its practicality was recognized in the early 19th century as a response to the limitations of bright colors, like the traditional red coats, which were impractical for camouflage in combat. Today, khaki has also become a staple in civilian smart casual fashion, being associated with adventure and outdoorsmanship, and with the word itself often referring to a specific type of khaki-colored chino trousers.
