Mauve is a pale purple color that falls under the purple color family. While mauve has its own distinct reddish-purple hue, it is considered a tint of purple when classifying color categories. There are a few key things to understand about mauve and what color family it belongs to:
The History of Mauve
The name “mauve” comes from the French word for the mallow flower. Mauve first became popular as a fashion color after the accidental discovery of the synthetic dye mauveine in 1856. Chemist William Henry Perkin was attempting to create a cure for malaria when he stumbled upon the purplish dye. Mauveine was the first synthetic aniline dye derived from coal tar, marking the beginning of the synthetic dye industry.
Queen Victoria wore mauveine-dyed gowns to the Royal Exhibition of 1862, which helped popularize the color in Victorian England. Mauve remained a popular dress color throughout the late 19th century. As one of the first chemical dyes, it signified industrial progress and luxury.
The discovery of mauveine allowed mauve to be reproduced reliably as a distinct reddish purple. Before synthetic dyes, mauve was more difficult to produce with natural pigments. The consistent availability of synthetic mauve made it recognizable as its own color name.
Where Mauve Falls on the Color Wheel
On the traditional RYB (red, yellow, blue) color wheel, mauve is located between purple and red:
| Color | Degrees on Color Wheel |
|---|---|
| Red | 0° |
| Magenta | 300° |
| Violet | 240° |
| Blue | 180° |
| Mauve | 330° |
| Purple | 270° |
As a tertiary color between purple and magenta, mauve falls at about 330° on the color wheel if 0° is red. This positions mauve directly between red and purple, but closer to purple.
On a traditional color wheel, the primary colors are red, yellow and blue. Mixing primary colors creates the secondary colors of purple, green and orange. When you mix a primary and secondary color, you get the tertiary colors. Mauve is a tertiary blend of purple and red.
The Pigments that Make up Mauve
When looking at mauve through a prism, it contains mixtures of the following wavelengths of light:
– Reds – 700-635 nm wavelength
– Blues – 500-450 nm wavelength
This combination of dominant wavelengths produces mauve’s soft purplish-red tone. While mauve has some blue tones, the stronger red wavelengths places it closer to purple than blue on the color spectrum.
In print design, mauve is created by combining pigments of purple and pink:
| Color | Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purple | 40% | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| Pink | 0% | 60% | 0% | 0% |
| Mauve | 20% | 80% | 0% | 0% |
As shown above, mauve uses high amounts of magenta pigment like purple, moderated by lower amounts of cyan closer to pink’s level. The lack of yellow separates it from red. So while not exactly halfway between, mauve skews closer to purple based on using higher amounts of the purple pigments.
Mauve’s Hue Family – Purples
Within color theory, colors are grouped into hue families based on their location on the color wheel. The primary hue families are reds, yellows, blues, oranges, greens and purples.
Since mauve falls between red and purple, it belongs to the purple hue family. Some other colors in the purple hue family include:
– Violet – A blue-based purple located closer to the blue and magenta primary colors than mauve. Violet lacks the red tones of mauve.
– Lavender – A light, soft purple with more blue undertones than mauve.
– Lilac – Similar to lavender, but slightly pinker.
– Fuchsia – A vivid reddish-purple that is brighter and more saturated than mauve.
– Plum – A reddish-purple that is darker and more grayish than mauve.
– Thistle – A light purple-gray, created by adding more gray to mauve.
All of these colors are considered shades of purple rather than standalone hues. Mauve fits right within the purple family alongside shades like violet, lavender, and lilac. It contrasts with pinks and reds on the opposite side of the color wheel.
How Mauve Differs from Similar Colors
Besides being classified under purple, how does mauve differ from similar reddish-purple colors?
Mauve vs Magenta:
– Mauve is lighter, softer, and less saturated than magenta. Magenta is located closer to fuchsia on the color wheel.
– Magenta has more blue rather than red tones compared to mauve. Mauve sits between magenta and red.
– Magenta is a secondary color, while mauve is a tertiary color.
Mauve vs Lilac:
– Lilac contains more blue undertones, giving it a cooler tone than the red-toned mauve.
– Mauve is darker than light, pale lilac.
Mauve vs Pink:
– Mauve is significantly darker and more muted than bright pink.
– Pink lacks the blue tones found in mauve.
– Mauve leans more towards purple, while pink leans more towards red.
So while similar, mauve has a more subtle reddish-purple appearance than magenta, lilac, or pink.
Uses of Mauve Today
After its Victorian peak, mauve faded from popularity as a fashion color during the 20th century. But mauve has seen a resurgence lately in interior design, apparel, and marketing.
Some modern uses of mauve include:
– A trendy paint color for bedrooms and bathrooms. Mauve creates a relaxing, romantic mood.
– Featured in fashion brands like Anthropologie and Free People. The muted purple flatters many skin tones.
– Used in packaging and logos for women’s subscription boxes, beauty brands, and lifestyle products. Mauve evokes femininity and self-care.
– Photographers use mauve backdrops and filters to create a moody, nostalgic vibe.
The vintage charm of mauve makes it a staple in boho, feminine, and millennial aesthetics today. Its softness provides an alternative to stark black and white or loud neons. Mauve straddles the line between playful and sophisticated.
Conclusion
While mauve has a distinct reddish-purple appearance, it falls squarely within the purple color family. On the color wheel, mauve sits between the primary colors of red and purple. Its tertiary mix of pigments contains both blue and red wavelengths, skewing it toward purple rather than pink or red shades.
Mauve is not its own distinct secondary hue, but rather a tertiary tint of purple. When classifying color categories, mauve would be grouped with other purple shades like lilac and violet. Its Victorian origins give mauve a unique vintage vibe that designers embrace today across fashion, interiors, and branding.
