If you’ve spent any time exploring the fascinating world of color, you’ve probably stumbled across the question: Is black a color? It’s the kind of question that can ignite heated debates among artists, scientists, designers, and anyone with strong opinions about the rainbow.
In the color community, there are two tribes: Team Yes and Team No. Each camp has solid arguments, and honestly, the discussion can get intense. The truth? Both sides are right. It all depends on your perspective. Let’s break it down.
Team No: “Black is Not a Color” (The Physics Perspective)
This is the hill physicists are willing to die on. Take Sir Isaac Newton, the guy who literally broke light apart with a prism to show the color spectrum. According to Newton, colors exist because of light, and black is what happens when there’s no light. Period.
In this view, black isn’t a color; it’s the absence of light and, therefore, the absence of color. Think of a black hole—it’s called black because it absorbs all light and reflects none back to us. It’s the same with objects we perceive as black. They’re not radiating color; they’re swallowing light.
As Albert Einstein (who had quite a few thoughts on light) put it:
„Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact we can use Newton’s prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn’t this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present.“
Physics deals with additive color, the color model of light. In this model:
- Combine red, green, and blue (RGB), and you get white light.
- Remove all light, and you’re left with black.
This is the realm of screens, stage lighting, and the natural world when it comes to light. If you’re a physicist or anyone working with light sources, black is a void, not a color.
Team Yes: “Black is Absolutely a Color” (The Artist’s Perspective)
Now let’s cross over to the artists, who roll their eyes at the physicists and say, “Of course black is a color. Just look at my palette!” Pablo Picasso once said:
„If you don’t know what color to take, take black.“
Artists work with subtractive color, the color model of materials (paint, ink, fabric). Here’s how it works:
- Combine all the primary pigments (cyan, magenta, and yellow), and you get black.
- Or, more often, you get a muddy brownish-black unless you use a true black pigment.
Subtractive color is all about what happens when light hits a surface. Materials absorb certain wavelengths of light and reflect others. A black object absorbs almost all light and reflects very little, making it appear, well, black.
In the subtractive model, black is not just a color—it’s a cornerstone. It’s used to add depth, contrast, and shadow, and it carries powerful symbolic weight. Just ask Coco Chanel, who famously declared,
„Women think of all colors except the absence of color. I have said that black has it all. White too. Their beauty is absolute. It is the perfect harmony.“
So, Who Uses Which Model?
The additive model is the playground of scientists, techies, and anyone dealing with light. It’s used in:
- Screens (TVs, phones, computers)
- Stage lighting
- Photography
The subtractive model is the go-to for artists, designers, and anyone working with physical materials. It’s used in:
- Painting
- Printing (where CMYK includes black as its own pigment)
- Fashion and textiles
The Great Divide: How We “Make” Black
Here’s where it gets interesting: the way we get black is completely different in the two models.
- In additive color, black is the absence of light. You don’t “make” black—you just turn off the lights.
- In subtractive color, black is the presence of pigment. Artists mix pigments or use a dedicated black to achieve the darkest shade.
This fundamental difference in how black is created explains why Team Yes and Team No can argue endlessly while both being technically correct.
Why This Debate Matters
Beyond the intellectual sparring, this debate reveals something deeper: black is more than just a color—or the absence of one. It’s a concept, a symbol, and a feeling.
So, is black a color? If you’re Newton, Einstein, or a lighting designer, it’s a hard no. If you’re Picasso, Chanel, or any artist with a brush in hand, it’s an enthusiastic yes.
At the end of the day, we are humans living in a material world (who else just started singing “and I am a material girl”? 🎶). We rarely experience colors as pure light; instead, we mostly see colors reflected off material surfaces. Whether it’s the vibrant hues of a painting or the fabric of your favorite outfit, the subtractive color model aligns more closely with how we perceive and interact with the world around us. So while both models are valid, for us earthlings, pigments and materials often take center stage.
As for me personally? After wearing black for the whole month now, I’ve come to see it as both a color and something more. It’s not just about physics or pigments—it’s about presence and perception. Black isn’t a void; it’s a statement, a feeling, and sometimes even a shield.
So, is black a color? Maybe the better question is: what does black mean to you? What do you think? Are you Team Yes or Team No? Let’s keep the debate going!
