The color blue is associated with two of Earths greatest natural features: the sky and the ocean.
But that wasnt always the case.
Today it continues to evolve, with the latest shade discovered less than a decade ago.
Read on to learn more about the color’s fascinating history.
First photo:Krzysztof Kowalski
Egyptian Blue
Egyptian Juglet, ca.
(Photo:Met Museum, Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1922.
Egyptian Juglet, ca. 1750–1640 B.C. (Photo:Met Museum, Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1922. (CC0 1.0))
Figure of a Lion.
(Photo:Met Museum, Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1922.
Ultramarine
Virgin and Child with Female Saints by Gerard David, 1500.
Figure of a Lion. ca. 1981–1640 B.C. (Photo:Met Museum, Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1922. (CC0 1.0))
Instead, they used it to make jewelry and headdresses.
Its deep, royal blue quality meant that was highly sought after among artists living in Medieval Europe.
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer, circa 1665.
“Virgin and Child with Female Saints” by Gérard David, 1500. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons)
Cobalt blue
The Skiff (La Yole) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1875.
This was especially the case in China, where it was used in distinctive blue and white patterned porcelain.
Dinky Bird by Maxfield Parrish, 1904.
“Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Johannes Vermeer, circa 1665. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons{{PD-US}})
Cerulean
Summer’s Day by Berthe Morisot, 1879.
Indigo
Indigo, historical dye collection of the Technical University of Dresden, Germany.
Indigo dyed textile (England), 1790s.
“The Skiff (La Yole)” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1875. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons{{PD-US}})
Natural indigo was replaced in 1880, when synthetic indigo was developed.
This pigment is still used today to dye blue jeans.
Navy blue
Navy cadets in uniform, 1877.
“Dinky Bird” by Maxfield Parrish, 1904. ViaWikimedia Commons{{PD-US}}
Modern navies have since darkened the color of their uniforms to almost black in an attempt to avoid fading.
Indigo dye was the basis for historical navy blue colors dating from the 18th century.
Prussian blue
The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai, 1831.
“Summer’s Day” by Berthe Morisot, 1879. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons{{PD-US}})
However, the pigment wasnt only used for creating masterpieces.
Fun fact:Today, Prussian blue is used in a pill form to cure metal poisoning.
International Klein Blue
Laccord bleu (RE 10), 1960 by Yves Klein.
Indigo, historical dye collection of the Technical University of Dresden, Germany. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons(CC BY-SA 3.0))
(Photo:Wikimedia Commons(CC BY-SA 3.0))
IKB 191, 1962 by Yves Klein.
Fun fact:Klein once said blue has no dimensions.
It is beyond dimensions, believing that it could take the viewer outside the canvas itself.
Indigo dyed textile (England), 1790s. (Photo: Matt Flynn viaWikimedia Commons{{PD-US}})
The Latest Discovery: YInMn
YInMn Blue.
Fun fact:YInMn bluewasrecently added to the Crayola crayon collection.
Navy cadets in uniform, 1877. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons{{PD-US}})
“The Great Wave off Kanagawa” by Katsushika Hokusai, 1831. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons{{PD-US}})
Prussian blue pigment. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons(CC0 1.0))
“L’accord bleu (RE 10)”, 1960 by Yves Klein. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons(CC BY-SA 3.0))
“IKB 191”, 1962 by Yves Klein. (Photo: Christophe Brocas viaFlickr(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0))
YInMn Blue. (Photo:Wikimedia Commons(CC BY-SA 4.0))
