Red: The Color of Love and Hate - Google Arts & Culture (2024)

User-created

This user gallery has been created by an independent third party and may not represent the views of the institutions whose collections include the featured works or of Google Arts & Culture.

While the facial expression in this piece could be taken for either fear or excitement, it is the red in the sky and on the walkway that helps clarify that the subject is in distress.

Here red is used as the brightest color in the scene and draws attention to the woman, making her more intimate and relevant than the gentleman in the background.

In this scene the use of red is obvious, the blood everywhere makes this a violent and aggressive work.

Here red is the only color besides shades of grey, making it a stark contrast and much more captivating to the eye.

Red Yamari flanked by Virupa and Dombi Heruka, 17th century, From the collection of: Rubin Museum of Art

The red here is the color of the characters expressing anger and helps to emphasize that emotion.

The Mass of Saint Gregory the Great, Master of Portillo, early 16th century, From the collection of: Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest

The red in this scene is used to show people of power and make them more visible as well as seeming more passionate.

Muyarama's choice to use red as the primary color for his portrait gives this piece grittier feel.

The only red in this image is that in her sleeves, putting more emphasis on the gesture of mourning Mary is doing with her hands.

Lady in red, József Rippl-Rónai (1861 - 1927), Lazarine Baudrion (1865 - 1947), 1898, From the collection of: Museum of Applied Arts, Budapest

The position of the woman's hips as well as the viewing angle are both to show her beauty and curves, which the red dress helps to convey.

Here red is used to give the piece a warm overall tone, where as another color could not.

Again we can see the use of red in blood to convey a violent act taking place, but it is also used to show that the character catching Jesus cares greatly about him.

Here the red dress makes the woman pop and stand out of the background, drawing attention to her and making her more ascetically pleasing.

Again red is used to show an important religious figure and represent his power and authority.

Dancing Red Ganapati of the Three Red Deities, 15th-16th century, From the collection of: Rubin Museum of Art

The red here is used to create the illusion of movement, particularly where the red and blue come together in the jagged pattern around the character, reminiscent of fire.

In the final image of this gallery, we have an example of the most recognizable universal symbols of love and passion, the heart. Red with the color of the life giving blood that runs through it.