Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Zur Farbenlehre [Treatise on Colour; Colour Theory]

Beate Allert (Purdue University)

Ed. by Gerhard P. Knapp, University of Utah
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.4.1: German-language Writing and Culture: Germany, 500-present.
Vol. editors: Gerhard P. Knapp (University of Utah), Jennifer Marston William (Purdue University), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jill E. Twark (East Carolina University)

Domains

Theory of Light

Dates

First circulation or publication 1810

Places

Germany (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Treatise

Resources

Goethe's work on color and seeing has a complicated history spanning the years from 1790 to 1832. During the years of 1791-1793 Goethe was much concerned with the genesis and evolution of color and color perception; his first published work on the subject appeared in Weimar in 1791-92 with parts one and two of his Beiträge zur Optik [Contributions on Optics], for the most part studies of prismatic light. He planned a further four parts in this series, but the third part, “Von den Farbigen Schatten” [“Concerning Colored Shadows”] (written 1792-93), explaining his surprise discovery of the phenomenon he termed “farbige Schatten” [colored shadows], never made it into print until much later. He was aware of related aspects in the theory and practice of Leonardo da Vinci's paintings and his “blue shadows”, and pursued his...

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2356 words

Citation: Allert, Beate. "Zur Farbenlehre". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 23 August 2006 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=5189, accessed 09 June 2026.]