By Francesca Lungarotti
The color red’s history is as rich and meaningful as the color itself. Red was the first color developed for painting and dying. It symbolized the religious contrast between the blood of Christ and the fires of Hell, and as far back as the Middle Ages, red was associated with love, lust, and anger.
Red, for many cultures, became the color of privilege, wealth and tradition. The Ancient Egyptians and Mayans colored their faces red in ceremonies; Roman generals had their bodies colored red to celebrate victories. After falling out of favor during the Protestant Reformation, red’s influence returned following the French Revolution, as the color came to represent progressive movements and subsequently left-wing politics during the 20th century.
Red is the one color that transmits and communicates strength, danger and tradition. Red, among all colors, has uniquely inspired the arts – literature, music, cinema and of course photography and visual arts are all influenced by the color. Red is obviously the color of love and passion, but it embodies so much more and is recognized globally as a strong and sacred color.
Red is a color that embodies extremes, and this dichotomy is very interesting to observe across many global cultures: from the joy of Indian brides in bright red dresses to the sadness of funeral celebrations in Africa where it is usually the color of mourning and death, to the ubiquitous red hearts seen everywhere in mid-February as the world celebrates love.
Red both warns us and attracts us. It commands us to notice it.
In the accompanying selection UIG proposes a series of images celebrating this wonderful color.
Crest on Tower Bridge, London. Photo: Hoberman/UIG 
The colorful festival of Holi. Dhaka, Bangladesh. Photo: Majority World/UIG 
Ghana, Ashanti, Close up of traditional red Ashanti funeral cloth with pattern of swords. Photo: Eye Ubiquitous/UIG 
Vietnam flag. Photo: Ton Koene/VW Pics/UIG 
Huc Bridge on Hoan Kiem Lake at night. Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo: Godong/UIG 
Heart shape on red background. 3D rendering. Photo: Bruce Rolff/UIG 
Heart on a tabernacle door. France. Photo: Godong/UIG 
The Visitation Monastery. Jesus sacred heart. Marclaz, France. Photo: Godong/UIG 
Red tape reading danger keep out preventing people crossing a bridge. Taken in Christchurch after the earthquake which struck on 22nd February 2011. Photo: Matthew Williams-Ellis/UIG 
Sikh Wedding. Novellara. Reggio Emila Province. Photo: Giovanni Mereghetti/UIG 
Primo Maggio. May 1 Event. May Day. Milan 2011. Italy. Photo: Giovanni Mereghetti/UIG 
Wool Ball. Photo: Giovanni Mereghetti/UIG 
Italy. Sicily. Castelvetrano. Selinus theatre. Photo: Giovanni Mereghetti/UIG 
Strawberries on a black dish over a black background. Photo: VW Pics/UIG 
The National Covid Memorial Wall, a public mural painted by volunteers to commemorate victims of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Photo: Majority World/UIG 
Vietnam: The red painted Huc Bridge (Rising Sun or Sunbeam Bridge) leading to Den Ngoc Son or Jade Mountain Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi. Photo: Pictures from History/UIG 
China: Red chillis drying in the Old Town in Lijiang, Yunnan Province. Photo: Pictures from History/UIG 
Thailand: Calligraphy on lucky red pendants at Kiuyong La Chinese shrine (joss house), Trang Town, Trang Province, southern Thailand. Photo: Pictures from History/UIG 
Old red telephone box used for a defibrillator, Saffron Walden, Essex, England, UK. Photo: Ian Murray/UIG 
China: Sichuan Opera mask of Guan Yu, the red-faced Chinese God of War. Photo: Pictures from History/UIG 
Once upon a time circa 1936-1939. Poster showing Little Red Riding Hood and a wolf. Photo: HUM Images/UIG 
1980 – Airmen place a red carpet on the ground for Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel prior to his departure from the United States after his visit. Photo: HUM Images/UIG 
1970s United States – Vintage gas pumps at old gas station (unknown location and date). HUM Images/UIG 
Leon Trotsky, founder and first leader of the Red Army, defends Russia against European intervention. Revolutionary poster, Russian Civil War, circa 1918. Photo: Pictures from History/UIG 
Common poppies / field poppies / Flanders poppies (Papaver rhoeas) in flower in meadow in summer. Photo: Arterra/UIG
To license any of these images please contact: info@universalimagesgroup.com
Source:
Red: The History of a Color by Michel Pastoreau and translated by Jody Gladding