Jessica Crabtree

Red is possibly the most important color in art, and our long history of attraction to it is very apparent. There’s evidence that we’ve been using it for decorative and ceremonial purposes for over 70,000 years. Archaeologists have uncovered caches of red ochre pigments at Paleolithic sites all over the world; the famous Ice Age cave paintings at Lascaux and Altamira, for instance, feature this pigment predominantly. Recently scientists have found a Neanderthal site in Spain with remnants of what appears to be body paint made from red ochre. In many ways red is our signature color. It has always represented life (because it is the color of blood), vitality, and emotion.

In scientific terms, red lies at the far end of the light spectrum, and as reflected light it has the highest wavelength our eyes can detect. So in its fullest chromas it has a powerful sensory appeal – a real attention-getter. That’s why stop lights and warning signs are bright red, and not bright green, and by the same token it’s why red roses are considered romantic and traditional Chinese brides wear red wedding gowns. Red used in composition creates warmth and draws a viewer’s focus, and is most intense when contrasted against black.

The red pigments used in art derive mostly from clays containing iron-based compounds, such as red ochre. Other sources are metallic compounds, such as mercury and sulfur in cinnabar or vermilion; pigments extracted from insects (carmine); and plant dyes. In pastels, many of the finest and most colorfast reds are made in parts of the world where the clays are found to have a high degree of color intensity from the minerals they contain, and exceptional texture that makes the pastels highly blendable.

National Geographic Photo Gallery: Life in Color – RED