What does the phrase painted black mean?
The phrase “painted black” is an idiom that has a few different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. At its core, the phrase refers to something that has been colored or covered in the dark color black. However, it often has metaphorical meanings as well.
Literal Meaning
The most literal meaning of “painted black” refers to an object or surface that has literally been covered in black paint or coloring. For example:
| The car was painted black. |
| The walls of the room were painted black. |
In both of these sentences, “painted black” is meant in a straightforward, literal way. The car’s exterior has been covered in black paint, and the walls have been covered in black paint or a black color as well.
This literal meaning can apply to anything that can be painted or colored – cars, walls, furniture, clothing, etc. If the object has been covered in black paint or dye, it has been “painted black” in the most literal sense.
Descriptive Meaning
“Painted black” can also be used in a more descriptive or figurative way. Rather than referring to something literally covered in black paint, it can be used to describe something that looks dark, blackened, or dirty:
| His hands were painted black with engine grease after working on the car all day. |
| The burnt toast was painted black and completely inedible. |
In these examples, the hands and toast have not been literally painted. However, they have become dark and blackened in appearance – the hands with grease, the toast from being burnt. So “painted black” is used in a metaphorical way to convey the blackened look of the objects.
This descriptive meaning can apply to anything that has become dark, dirty, or blackened in appearance, whether literally painted or not. It’s often used for dramatic or vivid description.
Symbolic Meaning
In some contexts, “painted black” takes on a symbolic or metaphorical meaning beyond just a literal description. Some symbolic meanings include:
Mourning
Black is a color strongly associated with mourning, grief, and death in many cultures. So “painted black” can symbolize mourning:
| After her husband died, she painted the front door of her house black. |
| The mood was somber as they painted their faces black for the funeral ceremony. |
Anger/Protest
Black is also associated with anger, protest, and rebellion. Painting something black can symbolically convey outrage or civil disobedience:
| The rioters painted a police car black and set it on fire. |
| She painted over the corporate logo on her jacket in black paint to protest unfair labor practices. |
Edginess
In fashion and subcultures like goth and punk, black clothing and makeup conveys edginess and being “dark.” So “painted black” can suggest these edgy aesthetics and attitudes:
| At the goth club, faces painted black with dark makeup were a common sight. |
| His attitude was rebellious ever since he started painting his fingernails black. |
Evil
Black is often associated with evil, death, the underworld, and dark magic. So “painted black” can have ominous or supernatural connotations:
| The black magic ritual called for the altar to be painted black. |
| In the firelight, the dark figure with his face painted black looked demonic. |
Common Examples
Beyond literal usages, “painted black” appears in various figurative contexts:
– Music: “Paint It Black” is a famous 1966 song by the Rolling Stones. The lyrics describe depressive feelings like having one’s soul painted black.
– Literature: In Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, a French warship is described as a “mourning ship” with its funnel painted black for a funeral.
– Art: Artist Jackson Pollock pioneered a style of flinging and dripping paint onto canvases laid on his studio floor, creating chaotic webs of black paint.
– History: Solidarity supporter Anna Walentynowicz described 1980s Poland as a “painfully black picture with a few flashes of color” when under martial law.
So in song, story, art, and history, “painted black” has been used to evoke deep symbolic meanings beyond just the color.
Phrase Origin
The origin of the actual phrase “painted black” is unclear, but using the color black symbolically dates back centuries at least.
Black has long been associated with darkness, death, and mourning across many cultures. The ancient Egyptians painted black imagery on tombs. Ancient Greek and Roman societies wore black to funerals. In the 14th century, the color black began to be regularly worn for mourning in Europe.
Using black as a color of protest and rebellion also has historical roots. Roman prostitutes were required to wear black hoods in public. 18th century Spanish caricatures depicted Prime Minister Manuel de Godoy wearing black, symbolizing his supposed moral corruption.
So the symbolic associations behind “painted black” have developed over long periods of time across many civilizations. The phrase puts this color symbolism into a vivid, evocative package.
Conclusion
In summary, the meaning of “painted black” depends greatly on the context:
– Literally, it can mean an object has been covered in black paint or dye.
– More figuratively, it describes something that has become blackened and dark in appearance.
– Symbolically, it can represent mourning, protest, edginess, evil, and other moods and concepts associated with the color black.
The phrase has origins dating back centuries drawing on long cultural associations between black and concepts like death, rebellion, and the underworld. So when something is “painted black,” often more is suggested than meets the eye.
