The color plum elicits controversy, as it seems to straddle the line between pink and purple. While most people lean one way or the other, plum contains qualities of both colors. Determining whether plum is pink or purple first requires an understanding of color theory and the origins of the plum color name. With thoughtful analysis of its hue, shade, tone and cultural associations, a convincing case can be made for classifying plum as either pink or purple.
The Origins of the Color Plum
Before analyzing the color itself, it helps to understand where the name “plum” comes from. Plum originated as a name for the oval, edible fruit of the Prunus domestica tree. The skin of a plum fruit ranges in color from red to purple to black. When the word “plum” became associated with a color in the early 1800s, it referred to the reddish-purple skin of plum fruits.
So originally, plum was linked to purple hues in nature. However, language evolves. Over time, plum became associated with lighter and brighter shades reminiscent of the pulp inside some plums. So while plum started as a reference to actual plums, it shifted to encompass a range of lighter purple-pink colors.
Technical Color Classifications
Color science provides some objective ways to categorize plum’s status as pink or purple. These include an analysis of its hue, shade and tone.
Hue
The hue of a color refers to where it falls on the color spectrum. Purple and pink sit between red and blue. Purple is a secondary color, meaning it is directly between the primary colors of red and blue.
Pink, on the other hand, is not directly on the color wheel. Pink is a tint of red, meaning pink is red plus white. This makes pink slightly off the main color wheel, closer to red than purple is.
Plum’s hue is generally recognized as more purple than red. It falls closer to the violet side than magenta. So in terms of hue alone, plum is more purple than pink.
Shade
The shade of a color describes how light or dark it is. Adding black darkens a color and creates a shade. Pink shades tend to be lighter, while purple shades run dark.
Plum often refers to lighter purple shades rather than extremely dark ones. These lighter plum shades have a softer look than bold, deep purples. So in terms of shade, plum leans pink due to its lighter tones.
Tone
The tone of a color refers to how bright or dull it appears. Bright colors have more pure pigment, while duller tones are muted or shaded towards grey. In general, pink has brighter, more saturated tones than purple.
Plum is intermediate here – neither extremely bright like neon pink, nor extremely muted like lavender. Plum’s tone contrasts with bold pink but resembles softer blush pinks. By tone, plum again aligns more closely with pink.
So while plum’s hue is more purple, its light shade and medium tone give it more qualities of pink than purple.
Cultural Associations
Beyond technical color classifications, cultural associations also shed light on plum’s link to pink and purple. These include:
Gender
Pink is culturally associated with femininity and girls. Purple is seen as more gender-neutral. Plum is not strictly a “girly” color like bright pink, but it does skew feminine.
Nature
Purple is associated with richer, deeper natural elements like grapes, amethyst and eggplant. Pink evokes delicate floral tones of cherry blossoms and peonies. Plum aligns more with pink’s soft, floral personality than purple’s jewel-toned allure.
Mood
Pink conjures romantic, cheerful feelings, while purple can be regal and mysterious. Plum’s mood is closer to pink’s – it has a lighter, more playful effect compared to stately purple.
So in terms of cultural symbolism, plum fits better with pink than purple.
Plum as a Distinct Color
While the above analysis positions plum closer to pink than purple, it’s also important to recognize plum as its own distinct color with unique qualities.
Some key ways plum differs from pink and purple:
- Plum is less extreme in tone than bold pink or purple
- Plum has a muted quality compared to neon pink
- Plum is warmer and more inviting than the coolness of purple
So while plum shares similarities with pink and purple, it sits comfortably between the two as its own sanctioned color. This middle ground quality is what sparks debate. But it also gives plum a versatility that makes it appealing to many.
Conclusion
The verdict on plum’s status as pink versus purple depends on perspective. Plum’s origins and technical classifications lean more purple. But its modern connotations and cultural associations align it with pink. Ultimately, plum is a blend of both colors.
This means there is no single right answer in the pink or purple debate. Plum exists in an intriguing space between the two. It demonstrates how color is complex, fluid and subjective. So while plum may defy categorization, it remains a beautiful and unique color. Its blend of pink and purple qualities is precisely what makes it a distinctive color that stands on its own.
Reference Tables
Plum Color Codes
| Name | Hex | RGB |
|---|---|---|
| Plum | #DDA0DD | 221,160,221 |
| Light Plum | #EE82EE | 238,130,238 |
| Pale Plum | #DDA0DD | 221,160,221 |
Plum vs. Pink and Purple
| Color | Hue | Shade | Tone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pink | Red-leaning | Light | Bright |
| Purple | Blue-leaning | Dark | Dull |
| Plum | In-between | Medium | Medium |
Keyword:
plum color
