Cover of Theory of Colours

Theory of Colours

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Chapter 1 of 42 Translator's Preface and Preface to the First Edition

0:00 29:04
Read along

Running time
8 h 58 min
Language
English
Readers
Availle, Chris Gray, Deborah Balm, DrPGould, Dylan Campbell and 13 others
Translated by
Charles Lock Eastlake

Chapters

About this recording

Newton's observations on the optical spectrum were widely accepted but Goethe noticed the difference between the scientific explanation and the phenomena as experienced by the human eye. He did not try to explain this, but rather collected and presented data, conducting experiments on the interplay of light and dark. His work was rejected as 'unscientific' by physicists but his color wheel is still used by artists today. - Summary by Lynne Thompson