Secret Lives of Colour: New edition with 25 new colours

The Secret Lives of Colour by Kassia St Clair is a captivating exploration of the history and meaning of colours, revealing how each shade tells a story about human civilisation. From the scandal of scarlet and the power of imperial purple to Picasso’s blue period and Barbie’s pink reimagined as a feminist symbol, St Clair traces the cultural, artistic, and scientific significance of colours across time. Enriched with 25 new hues, this modern classic takes readers on a fascinating journey through the origins and impact of colours—from Van Gogh’s chrome yellow sunflowers to Dorothy’s ruby slippers—showing how the spectrum around us reflects the beauty, ambition, and imagination of humanity.