The Color Black's Influence On The Melancholy

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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.

A collection of art that has a central theme of an emphasis on the color black. All of these pieces have a feeling of melancholy and dread, reinforced with the use of black. By Cory Wilson.

PD-102, Clyfford Still, 1931, From the collection of: Clyfford Still Museum

To reinforce the theme right off the bat, I chose a charcoal piece that focuses on a human skull.

Blitzed Site, LS Lowry, 1942 - 1942, From the collection of: The Lowry

Moving on, we come to a piece that focuses on a city that was destroyed during a blitzkrieg in WWII. It features a single man in the center of piece. He is alone.

The Dark Figure, Federico Castellón, 1938, From the collection of: Whitney Museum of American Art

I was drawn to the use of negative space. Instead of painting a darker figure in the foreground, the artist chose to paint the absence of a figure. Except for the hands. I love the emphasis on black.

Black Court Dress of Empress Elisabeth ("Sisi"), Fanny Scheiner, 1880/1890, From the collection of: Imperial Carriage Museum

A little different from typical artwork. This black dress represents is beautiful and has tons of detail; however, the emphasis on black presents a feeling of melancholy.

Sappers at Work : Canadian Tunnelling Company, R14, St Eloi, Bomberg, David, 1918 - 1919, From the collection of: Imperial War Museums

I was drawn to this piece because of its uses of lighting. They are all working in a tunnel. Definitely not a happy place.

Waiting for the Train on the Anhalter Bahnhof, Berlin. December 1945, Kessell, Mary, 1945, From the collection of: Imperial War Museums

This piece has very little detail. The main feeling I get from this piece is a sense of sadness. A very dark room.

Caliban, Odilon Redon, 1881, From the collection of: Musée d’Orsay, Paris

This piece intrigued me because of the creature it is focused around. It's just creepy. Also no color besides black and white.

Woman Praying, Nadel, Arno, 20th century, From the collection of: Leo Baeck Institute, Center for Jewish History

I love this piece. It shows a woman praying; however, she doesn't look particularly happy to be doing it. The jagged edges give me a feeling of dread. This is reinforced by the color black.

Ecce Homo, Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi), Circa 1605, From the collection of: Musei di Strada Nuova

The next few images are all baroque. Nobody in this painting has a happy expression. They all appear sad. Also the emphasis on the color black really brings the overall mood of the painting down.

The Night Watch, Rijn, Rembrandt van, 1642, From the collection of: Rijksmuseum

The use of the color black is very extensive. The figures in the middle are emphasized due to this. Again nobody really appears happy, they all appear melancholy.

Mural by Banksy, Banksy, From the collection of: Global Street Art Foundation

A bit of a different take on the color black. This is a piece of street art by Banksy. It shows a maid sweeping the dirt of the city under a "sheet". It really struck a chord with me.

Cain, Lovis Corinth, 1917, From the collection of: Kunstpalast

This piece was just really cool to me. Looking at the focus on black and lack of detail in his face, I would say it reinforces the idea rather than the individual.

Returning home in the dark, Zheng Jiazhen, 1979, From the collection of: Hong Kong Museum of Art

This is a piece of asian art. It uses black to outline the trees. Almost like a use of negative space. I get a sense of a depressive forest from this piece.

The Town, August Strindberg, 1903, From the collection of: Nationalmuseum Sweden

This piece is called the town; however, the town is not really the focus of this piece. The focus is on the clouds above the town. I view the clouds over the town as a depressive cloud.

A Seascape, Shipping by Moonlight, Claude Monet, About 1864, From the collection of: National Galleries Scotland: National

Shipping by Moonlight. Why not have the piece shipping by daylight? I feel that artist was trying to show the solitude of being on a ship, away from society through his use of black.

Dark'in, Kwon, Ki Beom, 2006, From the collection of: Korean Art Museum Association

This is a cool abstract piece of art in black and white. I enjoy the emphasis on black.

Dark and Light, Alastair Morton, 1938, From the collection of: Lakeland Arts - Abbot Hall Art Gallery and Museum

Another abstract piece. It has some red in it. But the majority of the piece is black.

Light Grey Wall, Josef Albers, 1958, From the collection of: Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest

Another abstract piece with a strong use of black. The black outlines the majority of the piece; however, the two horizontal lines draw your attention to them.

Princess Tuvstarr gazing down into the dark waters of the forest tarn., John Bauer, 1913, From the collection of: Malmö Konstmuseum

I love this piece. It shows solitude in the woods. If this were depicted in the daytime it wouldn't have the same impact. She is alone at night. It feels very depressive.

Midsummer Eve bonfire on Skagen's beach, P.S. Krøyer, 1906, From the collection of: Skagens Museum

I mean, they're burning someone alive here. I'd say thats pretty melancholic.

The Creation of Adam, Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (Italian, 1609–1664), c. 1642, From the collection of: The Art Institute of Chicago

This creation of adam is much different than the Michelangelo everyone is so familiar with. It is much, much darker. It almost makes it feel like the creation of man is a truly negative thing.

My inner world I, Chou Lok-wen, Irene, 1976, From the collection of: Hong Kong Museum of Art

This is a really cool piece. The entire background is solid black. It brings the focus right to the foreground. My inner world. The piece truly captures the name.

Cineraria, Vincent van Gogh, 1886, From the collection of: Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen

This is the darkest van Gogh I have ever seen. The flowers are wilting. It just has a general feeling of dread. I love it.

Palden Lhamo Dusolma, 19th century, From the collection of: Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art

This representation of an indian figure appears very angry. It's use of black is in very stark contrast to the red.

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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.