Bezold Effect

1. Bezold Effect
Thomas Green

2. Wilhelm Von Bezold, A 19th Century
Rug Designer, Discovered an OPTICAL
INTERACTION Effect, Which Now
Carries His Name, The BEZOLD
EFFECT. He Found That He Could
Change the Entire Appearance of His
Designs by Substituting a Different
Color For the Color Which Occupied
the Most Area.

3. When looking at a specific hue, it can appear to change in appearance depending on
the colors that surround it. For example, a yellow box surrounded by blue will look
darker than a yellow box surrounded by red. Often, the surrounded color seems to
take on a tint of the color that surrounds it; red boxes surrounded by blue will
appear more bluish than those surrounded by white. The clearest demonstration is
when two patches of identical color are surrounded by thin black and white borders
respectively. The one surrounded by black appears darker than the one surrounded
by white. The colored regions assimilate their border color; the opposite of the
contrast effect often found with brightness, and also with hue.
Bezold Effect

4. Bezold Effect
Wilhelm von Bezold (1837-1907) discovered that a color may appear
different depending on its relation to adjacent colors. Bezold discovered
that contrary to the already established finding of "simultaneous color
contrast" in which a color takes on the complimentary hue and
contrasting brightness of its surroundings, Bezold discovered that under
certain circumstances a colored region will take on the same color as its
surround.

14. For Monday
Create and title simple abstract compositional sketches
that express a particular feeling or mood. Be specific about
the mood/feeling to be conveyed.
Color Studies : Mood
Outside Assignment: Mood
• Create and title a simple composition based on your in class
studies that defines for you a particular feeling or mood. Be
specific about the mood/feeling you are attempting to convey.
Write it down and do not share the mood that you wish to
express with anyone except the instructor.
• Keeping in mind the Bezold Effect make a second version of
your composition that, through the substitution of one color
produces the opposite feeling or mood.
• Materials: Gouache/ Color-aid paper
• Mount your 6” x 9” studies on 8” x 11” Bristol. Use a 1”
border. Craft is important. Keep border clean.
• Write your name and the emotion expressed on the back of
each piece.