The power of black and white is undeniable. From the stark contrast of a black and white photograph to the symbolic meaning of the colors in different cultures, the combination of these two colors has a profound impact on our emotions. Miriam Verbeek (*1960) and Christian Bastiaans' (*195) are just two of the many artists who have explored the emotional power of black and white in their work. In many African and Asian cultures, as well as in medieval Europe, white is the traditional color of death and mourning.
In the West, meanwhile, black has symbolized mourning since the Renaissance. White represents purity, holiness and eternity in religions such as Christianity and Islam. Christian Bastiaans' (*195) 'Madonna of Humilty' (200) from the series Hurt Models reflects the Christian meaning of white as an expression of purity. However, the delicate sculpture made of iron wire and gauze mainly explores the vulnerability of human existence.
Black and white photography seems more formal and serious, and while the photo may seem simpler, the atmosphere of the photo is more intense, which makes it more emotional. White has that “flawless” feel that, for the right site, feels completely effortless. Its association with purity can make it seem virtuous, but also sterile and cold. Black evokes power, luxury, elegance, but it can also mean professionalism, neutrality and simplicity.
It's bold, powerful and often used to evoke mystery. In certain contexts and cultures, the color black can also refer to mourning or sadness. Argentinian conceptual artist Jorge Baldessari (*193) makes optimal use of the contrast between black and white in his embroidered poem “Tools” (1994-9), a conversation with the divine creator who expelled humanity from paradise. The intensive use of black for the creative agency Cartelle (opens in a new tab) creates an unquestionable impact on its homepage and subsequent animations. The black lines in the white paper are clear and defined marks, which have enormous communicative potential to convey information. In Marinus Boezem's installation (*193) 'The Artist's Absence' (1970), as well as in the work of the late Anna Verwey-Verschuure (1935-1980), black and white are used to address issues such as identity, presence and absence.
Braga objects from the Negros series are intense black forms that refer to processes of death, mourning and transformation. Black and white are not only used to create powerful visual images; they can also be used to create powerful emotional messages. In many Western traditions, black is associated with death and mourning, while in China the color of death is white. Black bears are only found in North America, where they are the smallest of the three North American species. The grayscale filter transforms the image in such a way that it only contains information about the black color level. By varying intensity, gray can acquire the properties of black or white (draw attention or repel) to specific degrees.
Like Chanel, their calls to action are also black, which gives visual emphasis to add the item to your “bag” (cart). Black widow spider is North America's most venomous spider, but only females are dangerous. Black and white are powerful colors that evoke strong emotions in people around the world. From religious symbolism to artistic expression to everyday life applications, these two colors have a profound impact on our lives.