Vandyke brown is a rich, deep brown color that has been used by artists for centuries. But there has been some debate over whether it should be classified as a warm or cool brown. In this article, we’ll examine the history and origins of Vandyke brown, look at its technical specifications, and explore why artists have differing opinions on where it falls on the color temperature scale.
The Origins and History of Vandyke Brown
Vandyke brown is named after Sir Anthony van Dyck, a 17th century Flemish painter who frequently used the color in his paintings. The pigment originally came from a dye produced in the 17th century by boiling down organic matter such as tree bark. It produced a rich, earthy brown color.
By the 18th and 19th centuries, a synthetic iron oxide pigment was created to mimic the original Vandyke brown. This mass produced pigment allowed more artists access to the rich hues of Vandyke brown. The synthetic version became a staple of landscape paintings during the Romantic era in the late 1700s to mid 1800s.
Fun fact: Vandyke brown is sometimes spelled van Dyke brown, without the capital D. Both spellings refer to the same color.
The Technical Specifications of Vandyke Brown
From a technical standpoint, Vandyke brown is considered a neutral or achromatic color. This means it lacks strong cool or warm undertones when viewed objectively. However, it does lean slightly warm due to its underlying orange-red tones.
Here are some key specifications of Vandyke brown:
- Hex code: #664228
- RGB values: 102, 66, 40
- CMYK values: 0, 35, 61, 60
- Hue: 34 degrees (oranges)
- Saturation: 39.9%
- Brightness: 40%
As you can see, it contains a stronger percentage of red and orange/yellow compared to blue and green. This gives Vandyke brown a subtly warm bias. However, it is still quite muted and not strongly warm like a bright orange.
Why Some Classify Vandyke Brown as Cool
Given its neutral-warm technical specifications, why do some artists insist Vandyke brown should be classified as a cool brown instead? Here are some of the reasons behind this debate:
1. It has a “receding” effect
Cool colors tend to visually recede into the background while warm colors pop forward. Some artists argue Vandyke brown makes a good shadow or background color because it has a naturally receding effect.
2. It creates a soothing mood
Cool colors like blues and greens tend to be more calming and soothing. Vandyke brown evokes a similar relaxing effect according to some artists.
3. It desaturates warm colors
When mixed with warm colors like reds, oranges and yellows, Vandyke brown desaturates them and makes them feel cooler and more neutral. This ability to “cool down” other colors makes some classify it as a cool brown.
Why Most Classify Vandyke Brown as Warm
On the other hand, most artists and color experts still consider Vandyke brown a warm neutral color. Here’s why this opinion prevails:
1. Its underlying orange tones
As mentioned earlier, from a technical standpoint, Vandyke brown leans warm due to its stronger red-orange hues. The pigment derives its color primarily from iron oxide which has an innately warm orangey undertone.
2. Its historical classification
Vandyke brown has nearly always been classified as a warm brown throughout history. This precedent makes many artists inclined to keep it in the “warm” category.
3. Its appearance in natural light
Colors can often shift slightly depending on the light conditions. In natural daylight, Vandyke brown tends to appear more neutral-warm than cool. So when artists observe it under natural lighting, it solidifies its classification as a warm brown.
4. Its relativity to other colors
Compared to other clearly cool browns with blue, green or violet undertones, Vandyke brown looks much warmer in contrast.
| Warm Browns | Cool Browns |
|---|---|
| Vandyke Brown | Gray Brown |
| Raw Umber | Green Brown |
| Raw Sienna | Blue Brown |
| Burnt Sienna | Violet Brown |
When directly compared to other browns, it becomes clearer why Vandyke brown resides on the warm end of the spectrum.
How to Use Vandyke Brown as a Warm Neutral
Because it has both warm and neutral qualities, Vandyke brown is extremely versatile to use in artwork and design projects. Here are some tips for harnessing its warm neutral powers:
In painting
Vandyke brown is excellent for creating rich, luminous darks and shadows in landscape paintings. Use it straight from the tube or mix it with small amounts of cooler blacks and greens.
In shading
It makes a great neutral base for shading skin tones, objects, or Dramatic shadows in drawings. Combine it with darker neutral colors like raw umber to deepen the shadows.
In home decor
Vandyke brown can add subtle, earthy warmth to any room. Use it on accent walls or to paint wooden furniture and doors. Pair it with cream, beige, sage green, terracotta, or peach colors.
In fashion design
The muted, rich quality of Vandyke brown makes it extremely wearable. It looks great on handbags, shoes, belts, jackets, pants, and accessories. Combine it with neutrals, blacks, ivories, golds, blues, greens and purples.
Vandyke Brown – A Final Analysis
While Vandyke brown sits right on the line between warm and cool, it ultimately falls more on the warm, earthy side according to most color theory experts. Its subtle warmth derives from its underlying red-orange tones and its naturally grounding, earthy qualities.
However, some artists make compelling arguments for classifying Vandyke brown as a cool neutral instead. Its receding effect, calming mood, and ability to desaturate warmer colors gives it cool tendencies.
At the end of the day, Vandyke brown is versatile enough to use as both a warm or cool neutral depending on the context. Its richness and luminosity make it a valuable tool for bringing both warmth and depth to artwork and design projects.
The next time you use Vandyke brown, think about whether you want its subtle warmth or cooling properties to come through. And allow its adaptable nature to create the desired mood and atmosphere in your work of art.
Conclusion
In summary, while there are arguments on both sides, the majority of evidence suggests Vandyke brown should be categorized as a warm neutral color. Its orange undertones, historical classification, natural appearance, and contrast to true cool browns all give Vandyke brown a subtle warmth. However, its versatility also lends itself to being used as a cool brown in some contexts. At the end of the day, Vandyke brown’s adaptability is what makes it such a useful and luminous color for artists across all mediums and genres.
