June 20th is widely regarded as the happiest day of the year and is often referred to as Yellow Day, in contrast to Blue Day.
These two days were devised in 2005 by psychology professor Cliff Arnall, who took into account factors such as the length of the day, the temperature, the likelihood of having a holiday, and childhood memories.
Is yellow the colour of happiness?
Just as the weather can influence our mood, the psychology of colour is also closely linked to it. This means that our emotional state impacts our perception of colours, and vice versa. According to this theory, yellow symbolises energy, joy, creativity, positivity, intelligence, strength and power. Perhaps this is due to its resemblance to sunlight, or its intensity and luminosity, but either way, it conveys a feeling of vitality and optimism.
Yellow was used to paint hieroglyphics in ancient Egypt. It was obtained naturally from certain plants, fruits and spices, and was highly prized due to the difficulty of producing it in large quantities.
In the world of art, this primary colour has been studied and used extensively because of its value, sometimes becoming the protagonist.
The oldest known yellow pigment is ochre, but the most famous is lead and tin yellow, which was used in the Middle Ages by the great masters. Later, Europeans imported Indian yellow, which quickly became the pigment of choice for artists.
Its use in art challenged aesthetic conventions and opened up new avenues for visual and conceptual experimentation.
Artists closely associated with the colour yellow
Many painters are renowned for their penchant for using this shade:
- Vincent Van Gogh:
When it comes to yellow in art, Van Gogh is an inevitable reference point. It was a staple of his palette and he used it to represent light, warmth and hope. Some have suggested that his preference for warm colours may be linked to his mental health, and there is even a story that he ate yellow paint for inspiration. One hypothesis is that the medication he was taking could have caused xanthopsia, a condition that distorts colour perception, making everything appear yellowish. The artist saw the world through a yellow filter. Despite the ailments that may have affected his work, he is considered one of the greatest artists in history for his ability to convey the symbolism of the colour yellow. - Gustav Klimt:
If there's one artist renowned for his use of yellow, it's undoubtedly Gustav Klimt. His works, full of gold and yellow, radiate warmth, sensuality and energy. The reasons why Klimt became so interested in gold remain unclear, but they may have been influenced by his father's engravings or his travels, which introduced him to certain materials. His Golden Age, which lasted a decade, is the highlight of his entire artistic career. - Mark Rothko:
This artist has made his mark by using yellow and orange to convey emotions and create visual experiences, experimenting with luminescence to achieve this.
The meaning and use of the colour yellow continues to evolve through art, decoration and fashion, and its concept continues to take root.
While it can have different meanings depending on one's perspective, it is unequivocally associated with summer, which is why it coincides with the day on which this season begins in the Northern Hemisphere.
In short, the colour yellow and its role in Yellow Monday represent a vibrant explosion in the artistic landscape, as well as symbolising renewal, criticism and freedom of expression.
How are you going to celebrate this day?
If you like the colour yellow as much as we do, here is a recommendation of related products.
