Blue: From Ancient Egypt to Yves Klein

藍色藝術史：從古埃及的神聖釉彩到 Yves Klein 極致之藍
一種顏色，承載神聖與顛覆，象徵權力、純潔、憂傷與超越。

藍色如何從稀有昂貴的顏料，演變為藝術史上最富情感與象徵力量的色彩？

從古埃及的鈷藍釉彩、中世紀祭壇畫，到 Yves Klein 大膽純粹的單色畫，藍色在不同時代既神聖又叛逆，象徵權力與純潔，也承載憂鬱與超越。本書透過青金石、靛藍與人工群青等顏料的開採、製造及普及，梳理藍色的意義、象徵與圖像如何隨材料演進而轉變，見證這種一度昂貴難得的色彩，如何在物質與隱喻層面成為藝術創作的核心。

書中廣泛收錄跨越不同時期與地域的代表性作品：從埃及彩釉陶器、中世紀手抄本、喬托燦爛的濕壁畫、維梅爾寧靜的室內場景，到莫內閃爍的水面，以及葛飾北齋、畢卡索與 Yves Klein 的突破性實驗。藝術家藉由藍色喚起情感、營造氛圍，更重新想像我們眼中的世界。

每件作品皆搭配深入淺出的賞析，探討顏料的來源、運用方式及其所處時代的文化意義。透過不同時空與地域的藝術並置，本書邀請讀者重新凝視熟悉與意想不到的傑作，看見一種色彩如何映照人類經驗，也改變我們理解世界的方式。

Discover how the color blue evolved from a rare and sacred pigment to a powerful tool of artistic expression—from medieval altarpieces to modernist experiments.

From the cobalt glazes of ancient Egypt to Yves Klein’s bold monochromes, blue has carried meanings both sacred and subversive across eras. Along the way, blue has been a symbol of power and purity, of sorrow and transcendence. This book traces how those meanings, symbolism, and iconography shifted through the evolving availability of pigments such as lapis lazuli, indigo, and synthetic ultramarine.

Readers will see how a color, once costly and elusive, became central to artistic practice, both materially and metaphorically. A wide-ranging selection of iconic works—from Egyptian faience and medieval manuscripts to Giotto’s radiant frescoes, Vermeer’s quiet interiors, Monet’s shimmering waters, and the radical experiments of Hokusai, Picasso, and Yves Klein—show how artists have used blue to evoke emotion, suggest atmosphere, and reimagine the visible world.

Each image is paired with a thoughtful reflection on its making and meaning; and how the pigment was sourced, applied, and understood in its cultural moment. Designed for visual impact and intellectual clarity, the fascinating juxtaposition of art from all periods and all continents invites readers to look closely at masterpieces both surprising and familiar —and to reconsider how a single color has reflected and reshaped the human experience.