A Deeper Look at Josef: Interaction of Color

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After taking interest in in Color Theory, I decided to continue my exploration into Josef Albers and different variations of Color Theory. Josef Albers was a German born Professor of design and was considered a very influential "element" in the design world. After teaching in Germany for a short while, Albers moved to the United States where he taught painting at Black Mountain College, and then later moved on to Yale where he was a professor, and the head of the Design Department. In 1963, Albers published "Interaction of Color," which even to this day, has remained a very significant source for artist and designers alike. Primarily the book details color experimentation, testing both theory and technique. Though the entire book is filled with amazing results, experiments, and significant information on color, perhaps one item of information that I found to be particualary interesting, was Albers brief explanation and examination of the Munsell System. The Munsell color system is "a color space that specifies colors based on three color dimensions: Hue, value, and Chroma. (Thanks to Wikipedia for a concise definition) Albers uses the Munsell system to compare and contrast it to other theories such as the Ostwald Color System, and the Faber Birren Color System. Albers points out in his book that the Munsell System is considered a " contemporary" system that we use to study color. It is though the Munsell system and other various color systems that we are able to understand and "experiement on the relation and balance of light with quantity within the color wheel." (pg. 65) Through Albers' writings and works, one is able to better understand colors, and their relationships through ways of his experimentation with color. It is through the examination of the past that we are able to understand the colors of design, today.



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