The art style of using black and white with one color is known as monochromatic with an accent color. This style is recognizable for its high contrast between black and white, with pops of a single bright hue. It has a bold, graphic look that stands out. Monochromatic with an accent color is popular across all visual mediums including painting, photography, design, and film.
Definition
Monochromatic with an accent color is a variation on monochromatic art where nearly everything is in black and white or shades of gray, except for one color that is used as an accent. The accent color draws attention and brings energy to the composition, contrasting with the more muted monochrome tones. This look has a minimalist, modern aesthetic.
Characteristics
Some key characteristics of the black and white with one color style:
– High contrast between dark and light
– Limited color palette – neutral black, white, and grays plus one vibrant hue
– Color used strategically as an accent, highlight, or focal point
– Bold, graphic, high impact visuals
– Striking contrast between neutral and colorful elements
– Minimalist, modern aesthetic
– Retains intensity of black and white while adding a splash of color
The color palette is very simple, clean, and easy to recognize. It creates a bold graphic look. This makes the style versatile for many applications where high visual contrast is desired.
Use of Color
While everything else is neutral black, white and gray, the accent color really pops. It immediately draws the viewer’s eye. This color is strategically applied to elements the artist wants to highlight, call attention to, or bring energy to.
Some ways the accent color may be used:
– Clothing or accessories on a person
– Specific objects in a scene
– Typography or logos
– Backdrops or backgrounds
– Select shapes or lines
– Lighting and special effects
The color choice is often vibrant, saturated, and intense. Popular options include red, orange, cyan, blue, pink and yellow. But any color that contrasts well against black and white can work.
History
Early Origins
Using a deliberately limited color palette with one accent color emerged in visual art and film in the early 1900s. At a time when color reproduction technology was still primitive, it was a way to create bold graphics and make color pop.
Influential modern art movements like De Stijl, Dadaism, and pop art experimented with minimal color palettes and bold primary colors against black and white. De Stijl artists for instance used only red, blue, and yellow accents against neutral backgrounds.
Popularity in Film
Black and white films would sometimes accent key props or costumes with color. But a more deliberate use of the style came about with technology allowing color filming.
In the 1940s/50s Hollywood directors like Alfred Hitchcock used limited color initially for only small details like lipstick or a neon sign. As color filming developed, entire scenes or sequences would be in black and white but highlight a key element in vibrant color.
Schindler’s List (1993) featured a famous example using a little girl’s red coat to stand out in the black and white film. Movies like Sin City (2005) and Pleasantville (1998) also brought striking high contrast black and white with color pops into popular culture.
Impact and Lasting Influence
The high contrast monochromatic with a color accent style made a big impact across visual media. Its bold minimalist look helped set it apart and attracted attention.
Artists, graphic designers, and filmmakers still frequently employ the style today to add visual interest and make elements stand out. It is widely used in marketing, branding, advertising, fine art photography, and more.
When used strategically, this simple approach to color can create memorable, iconic images and compositions. The style has secured an enduring place across all visual fields.
Use in Different Creative Fields
Photography
Many fine art and fashion photographers work in black and white accentuated with color. The color draws the eye to subjects, lighting effects, or details the photographer wants to feature.
In surrealist photography, isolated color objects may appear floating in a monochrome void. Fashion photos often pick out details like accessories, makeup, or clothing in bright colors against a black and white background. Portraiture can also use this technique to emphasize eye color for example.
Design
Graphic designers make frequent use of this high contrast color scheme. Logos, ads, posters, branding, and packaging often feature bold black and white minimalist layouts highlighted with a signature color.
This look works to grab attention and give projects a clean, modern aesthetic. Many major brands from Nike to Apple employ black and white with strategic color accents in their visual identity. The color pops make the branding more striking and memorable.
Illustration
Illustrators across styles from comic books to children’s books use this technique. It is common in comics for scenes to appear in black and white with one color used to draw attention to a key feature or character.
Many children’s books also contain black and white or sepia toned illustrations with bright spot color. This helps hold children’s interest and focuses the visual storytelling.
| Creative Field | Examples of Use |
|---|---|
| Photography | Fashion photos, fine art portraits, surrealist art |
| Design | Logos, advertisements, posters, branding |
| Illustration | Comics, children’s books |
Other Terms and Variations
Some other terms used for this style:
– Monochromatic with a color accent
– Duotone
– Monotone with a spot color
– Black and white plus one color
– High contrast limited color
There are also some variations on the classic look:
– Using more than one accent color, though not many
– Accent with a secondary black or gray instead of true black and white
– Limited palette of neutral grays instead of pure black and white
– Use of variegated gray tones rather than flat black and white
But the basic high contrast minimalist aesthetic with color used strategically remains recognizable across these variations.
Conclusion
The striking black and white with a bold pop of color style has been used to great effect across visual arts, film, design, and photography. Its high contrast graphic look and strategic use of color grabs attention and creates memorable compositions. This enduring technique continues to be widely used today to add visual interest and make elements stand out. When skillfully executed, it results in bold, iconic visuals.
