See more objects with the tag color theory, primary colors, complementary colors, achromatic color, color harmony, hue, color value.

Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

1927

  • Work on this object began.

2018

2025

  • You found it!

Bookplate, Der Farbkörper (The Color Body)

This is a bookplate. It was written by Wilhelm Ostwald.

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Smithsonian Libraries and Archives as part of Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color.

It is dated 1927. Its medium is letterpress with collage on paper.

These cross sections of Ostwald’s double cone model reveal his systematic mapping of three color qualities: hue, whiteness/blackness, and chromaticness or saturation. His numerous publications devoted to color harmony sparked much debate and inspired several related color systems.

It is credited Smithsonian Libraries, QC495 .O85 1927 quarto.

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Its dimensions are

H x W: 22 × 32 cm (8 11/16 × 12 5/8 in.)

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-4.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/1108749935/ |title=Bookplate, Der Farbkörper (The Color Body) |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=11 February 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>