Skip to Main Content

Color: Culture and Symbolism

Exploring Color: Culture, Meaning and Symbolism!Matisse - The dessert: harmony in red (The red room)

What does color symbolize in different cultures around the world? Why does the same color have different influence or meaning when used on products, in fashion, in art or in interior design? 

Use these search keywords to find books, articles and more in OneSearch. (for example: Color and Symbolism)

Art   Brands  •  Color / Colour  •  Culture  •  History  •  Meaning  •  Philosophy  •  Religion  •  Social  •  Symbolism  •  Trends

Search for these and other library subjects in OneSearch:

  • Symbolism of colors -- History
  • Color -- Psychological aspects -- History
  • Color -- Social aspects -- History
  • Color in Clothing -- Social Aspects
  • Color in art -- History
  • Color guides
  • Color in design
  • Color in marketing

Search Tip:

The search results for Color History may also show you other resources that include those words in different contexts, such as content about Race. To exclude results about race, try the phrase (Color History NOT Race).

FIT Databases Subscription resources are available to FIT faculty and students. Internet resources are available to all users.

Image: The Dessert: Harmony in Red, 1908 by Henri Matisse     MSM 4/2025

Find it in OneSearch (FIT Library Catalog)

Search for books, ebooks, articles, and more

Click here to get started:

Color History - Books / eBooks (Gallery)

Locating Books in the FIT Library

Many books can be found in the 5th Floor Main Stacks in the following call number ranges:

  • BF789.C7 -- General titles on the history and meaning of color 
  • TP920 -- Books about specific pigments, like indigo
  • ND1488 and N7432.2 -- Books about the use of color in art, including theory and technique
  • NK1548 and NK2115.5 -- Books about applied color in design
  • QC495 -- Books about the science of color: vision; light and color in nature
     

Color History and Meaning - Databases

More books to explore

Related Guide Links