Do You See What I See? Aspects of Color Choice and Perception in Ancient Egyptian Painting

• Main Author: Strong Meghan E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: De Gruyter 2018-05-01
• Series: Open Archaeology
• Subjects: yellow pigment; art historical theory; aesthetics; visual perception; experimental archaeology; artificial light; darkness
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2018-0011

Color in ancient Egypt has been examined through linguistics, anthropological theory and archaeological science. In recent years, attention has focused on the application of art historical theories of reception and perception to ancient Egyptian art, but seldom on color itself. This article will examine aspects of color choice and visual perception, particularly focusing on use of the pigments yellow ochre and orpiment. Building on a growing body of art historical and archaeometric scholarship, it will demonstrate the contributions that experimental archaeology can make to the analysis and understanding of ancient Egyptian painting. Specifically, this study will examine why the Egyptian artist chose specific color combinations by taking into account the original space and lighting conditions of these paintings.