Chromorama: How Colour Changed Our Way of Seeing

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Originally published in Italian in 2017, the book is now available in English, and it’s not hard to see why it proved such a success. Rather than just going deep on the nuances of colour theory, the book looks at the history of colour in an accessible, innovative and very human way. The book’s subheading, How Colour Changed Our Way of Seeing offers some clue as to its stance, which is as much about our attitudes to colour and the surprising things that has informed them over time, from scientific breakthroughs to cultural movements, intellectual shifts, and even industry. One of the best books on colour I've read. A layered tapestry of stories, insights and ideas, each beautifully and clearly written. I expected to read about things I already knew about, but it kept surprising me in its twists and turns. For anyone interested in colour, it's a must. -- Marion Deuchars, author of Let's Make Some Great Art

This book is a wonderful celebration of the impact of colour on our lives , and a reminder that so much of the world we take for granted has had the thoughtful eye of a designer behind it -- Stefanie Posavec, co-author of Dear DataThe Italian colour bible: a gorgeously illustrated exploration of colour and the modern gaze, from an award-winning designer. Watching The Devil Wears Prada once won't turn you into the fashionista that is Miranda Priestly (supposedly modeled on Vogue's editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour) overnight but films, books and magazines are a great source of inspiration. Completely fascinating . . . I had no idea I knew so little about colour, Chromorama explodes the myths and fills in the blanks. A wonderful book . -- Lauren Laverne ― BBC Radio 6 Completely fascinating . . . I had no idea I knew so little about colour, Chromorama explodes the myths and fills in the blanks. A wonderful book. Lauren Laverne, BBC Radio 6

One of the best books on colour I've read. A layered tapestry of stories, insights and ideas, each beautifully and clearly written. I expected to read about things I already knew about, but it kept surprising me in its twists and turns. For anyone interested in colour, it's a must. Marion Deuchars, author of Let's Make Some Great Art Brilliant. Chromorama looks at the history of colour in an accessible, innovative and very human way ― Creative Review

Brilliant. Chromorama looks at the history of colour in an accessible, innovative and very human way Creative Review

A fascinating montage history of the perception, money and technology behind colour, running across the spectrum all the way from dragon's blood to E120 -- Owen Hatherley, author of Trans-Europe Express A book that not only makes the world brighter and more complex, but which sharpens our sense of how that world might look differently and might be made differently . Falcinelli has a luminous appreciation for human creativity, and a passionate and quietly radical sense of the richness of experience possible outside of modern mass-production. Chromorama is a luxurious and immersive work -- Seán Hewitt, author of All Down Darkness Wide I mention this to explain that I approached Riccardo Falcinelli’s Chromorama with very high expectations. Falcinelli is an esteemed graphic designer and the book has been a success in Italy; it covers a rich subject, familiar to all but so little understood outside a few specialisms that it has endless capacity to surprise. Falcinelli is an esteemed graphic designer and the book has been a success in Italy; it covers a rich subject, familiar to all but so little understood outside a few specialisms that it has endless capacity to surprise. . . The elegant integration of text and images calls to mind John Berger's 1972 Ways of Seeing ― Literary Review

Fascinating. A mine of ideas and questions, suppositions and facts. Although Keats mourned the rainbow's unmaking, Falcinelli, in drawing his myriad-hued references together, weaves a different magic into its arc -- Rachel Campbell-Johnston ― The Times One of the most important graphic designers in Italy, Falcinelli takes us on a journey to discover the meaning of colour. With four hundred images featuring comics and architecture, movies and everyday objects, he tells the story of why we understand colour the way we do ― Il Libraio