Purple is a color that occupies a special place in human culture and aesthetics. Known for its royal and noble associations, purple has long been a color that conveys richness, extravagance, and imagination. But what gives this color its unique visual identity and makes it distinct from other colors on the spectrum? The answer lies in purple’s special relationship to the colors blue and red.
The Science of Purple
On a basic level, purple is what we see when our eyes detect a combination of red and blue light waves. The human eye contains cells called “cones” that are sensitive to different wavelengths of light. Some cones pick up long red wavelengths, others short blue ones. When our eyes see these two wavelengths together, our visual cortex creates the perception of purple.
So in technical terms, purple is a secondary color made by combining the primary colors red and blue. Primary colors can’t be created by mixing other colors, while secondary colors are formed by mixing two primaries.
The exact shade of purple depends on the proportions of red and blue used. Mixing equal parts red and blue makes violet. Using more red creates reddish purples, while using more blue makes bluish purples. This mixing allows for a wide spectrum of purple shades, from pale lavender to deep magenta.
The Red and Blue in Purple
Red and blue aren’t just physical components of purple light, they are also deeply embedded into the cultural meanings and psychology of the color.
The Passion of Red
Red is commonly associated with strong emotions like passion, excitement, aggression, and love. It has a stimulating effect and can intensify reactions. Red captures the primal, visceral experience of being human.
So red brings an energetic, sensual quality to purple. Red gives purple a vibrancy that conjures up vivid imagination and spirit. It provides a dynamism to the color that evokes nourishment, vitality, and strength.
The Serenity of Blue
Blue has calming, tranquil qualities. It suggests stability, tranquility, wisdom, and confidence. Light blues especially evoke openness, peace, and etherealness.
Blue therefore balances out purple’s passionate red side with a more meditative presence. It brings purple a sense of mystique, intuition, and depth. Blue makes purple feel magical, almost otherworldly.
The Symbolic Meaning of Purple
Historically, purple has been strongly associated with royalty, spirituality, and creativity. The rarity and expense of purple dyes in the ancient world is one reason why purple garments became synonymous with prestige and status.
Royalty
In Europe, purple robes were worn by kings, queens, and emperors. The rulers of the Holy Roman Empire wore Tyrian purple, a famous dye made from seashells. Because of purple’s regal heritage, it still conveys luxury today.
Spirituality
Purple played an important role in many ancient spiritual traditions. In Hinduism, purple represents the “Crown Chakra” at the top of the head and the most spiritual state of mind. Catholic bishops wear purple to symbolize the suffering of Christ.
Creativity
Purple inspires the imagination. It represents the unconventional and the artistic. Purple contains the passion of red and the mysticism of blue – two qualities central to the creative spirit. Prince and David Bowie famously adopted purple as their trademark color.
Psychology of Purple
Beyond its cultural symbolism, the combination of red and blue is also responsible for the psychological effects commonly attributed to purple.
Magic and Mystery
Purple has a mystical, magical aura. Its relationship to the imagination and spirituality creates this sense of otherworldliness. Purple contains just enough red passion to feel exhilarating without being overstimulating.
Wisdom and Dignity
Purple’s blue hues give it a wise, dignified feeling. But unlike austere darker blues, purple has a touch of eccentricity. This combination makes purple sophisticated yet intriguing.
Ambiguity and Androgyny
Purple’s blending of passionate red and calm blue symbolizes the integration of opposite energies. This makes purple delightfully ambiguous – standing somewhere between red and blue. Purple has both masculine and feminine qualities, evoking androgyny and fluidity.
Uses and Applications of Purple
Purple’s unique personality has established its use across many creative, commercial, and advocacy contexts.
Art
In painting, purple conveys a wide range of moods. Light purples express romance and sentimentality. Dark or muted purples suggest drama and tragedy. Picasso, Matisse, and Van Gogh famously explored purple hues.
Fashion
Purple adds flair and drama to clothing. It pairs well with silver and gray and works for all genders. Common purple fashion items include dresses, suits, ties, and shoes.
Interiors
As an accent color, purple livens up any room. It can act as a neutral or make a bold statement, depending on the shade. Purple evokes imagination and spirit, making it perfect for creative spaces.
Branding
Purple grabs attention and conveys uniqueness. It’s commonly used in creative industries, unconventional products, luxury, and women’s brands. Well-known purple brands include Yahoo, Hallmark, Cadbury, and Milka.
Advocacy
Purple promotional items raise awareness for specific causes. Lavender represents LGBT pride, combining pink and blue. Purple also represents cystic fibrosis, lupus, domestic violence, Alzheimer’s, and animal advocacy.
Meaningful Shades of Purple
While purple has an overall personality, specific shades each have their own nuanced meanings. Here are some of the most iconic purple tones.
Violet
As the standard purple, violet balances red and blue equally. It has an old-fashioned, antique quality. Violet represents wisdom, dignity, imagination, and creativity.
| HEX Code | RGB Code |
|---|---|
| #8A2BE2 | R: 138, G: 43, B: 226 |
Lavender
With more blue than red, lavender feels gentle and sweetly sentimental. It conveys femininity, grace, and youth. Lavender represents beauty, refinement, and elegance.
| HEX Code | RGB Code |
|---|---|
| #B57EDC | R: 181, G: 126, B: 220 |
Lilac
Also light and floral, lilac is slightly deeper and richer than lavender. It feels romantic, nostalgic, and classically feminine. Lilac represents old-fashioned charm and innocence.
| HEX Code | RGB Code |
|---|---|
| #C8A2C8 | R: 200, G: 162, B: 200 |
Mauve
Muted and dusty, mauve is a dusky purple with strong gray undertones. It feels understated yet asynchronously elegant. Mauve represents subtlety, ambiguity, androgyny, and sophistication.
| HEX Code | RGB Code |
|---|---|
| #E0B0FF | R: 224, G: 176, B: 255 |
Fuchsia
Fuchsia amps up the red in purple, resulting in an intense, exciting magenta. Associated with youth and vibrancy, fuchsia represents confidence, charisma, and boldness.
| HEX Code | RGB Code |
|---|---|
| #FF00FF | R: 255, G: 0, B: 255 |
Conclusion
Purple is a multifaceted color with many layers of meaning. Its essence comes from combining passionate red and tranquil blue. This mixture gives purple an intriguing energy – simultaneously exotic and wise, mystical and sophisticated. Purple’s complexity allows it to bring out imagination, spirituality, and nonconformity across many contexts. From ancient robes to contemporary logos, purple’s romance with red and blue will continue to give it power, prestige, and personality.