Burchett, Kenneth E.

Dr. Kenneth E. Burchett teaches Color Theory at the University of Central Arkansas, where he previously served as Chair of the Department of Art. His paintings have been shown in exhibitions throughout the United States. His articles have appeared in Color Research and Application, Leonardo, and Art Studies. He is a native of Missouri and a graduate of the University of Tulsa and the University of North Texas.

Bibliographical History of the Study and Use of Color From Aristotle to Kandinsky

2005 0-7734-6041-1
This book has three parts. Part One outlines historical trends in the study and use of color from antiquity to the present, with emphasis on color harmony and color in art. The history of color harmony meaning is traced from Aristotle through Kandinsky, to Modern and Postmodern ideas. Discussed are the important contributions to color theory of Alberti, da Vinci, Rubens, Descartes, LeBlon, Hogarth, and Delacoioix, to name a few. Chapters are included on the systematic color analyses of Newton, Goethe, and Chevreul, as well as those of Schopenhauer, Young, Brewster, and Runge; the groundbreaking color-vision research of Helmholtz and the notable scientific studies of Fechner and Rood; the influence of scientific color on such artists as Seurat; and the color organization theories of Moses Harris, Munsell, and Ostwald. Coverage is given to the psychology of affective response, including, among others, Wundt, Allesch, Kirschman, Birkoff, Katz, Arnheim, and Ehrenzweig. Color education is explored through such 20th century teachers as Itten, Katz, Albers, Pope, Sargent, Henri, and many more. Histories, anthologies, and bibliographies introduce Gage, Indergrand, Birren, and other late 20th century literary resources on color. Described is the role that color handbooks and quick-study references play in color harmony. An overview of the inconsistencies in the language of color is presented, and some of the current research attitudes toward the enigmatic subject of color harmony today are sampled.

Part Two covers the landmark color publications of Goethe, Chevreul, Helmholtz, Kandinsky, Katz, Judd, Albers, Wright, Itten, Arnheim, Munsell, and Pope. Bibliographic summaries are provided of the various editions of their books. Included are biographies and bibliographies of each author.

Part Three includes a bibliography of 100 books on color ranked in order of importance in the study and use of color through time. Contributors to the list include Rudolf Arnheim, Faber Birren, Frans Gerritsen, David Lewis MacAdam, and Siegfried Rösch, and others. The method used to construct the bibliography is described. The text includes references, general bibliography, a special retrospective bibliography on color harmony and color use in art, subject lists arranged by dates of publication for cross-referencing, and indexes.