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Interaction of Color: 50th Anniversary Edition Paperback – Illustrated, June 28, 2013

by Josef Albers (Author), Nicholas Fox Weber (Foreword)

2,205 ratings

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The 50th anniversary edition of a classic text, featuring an expanded selection of color studies

“The landmark 1963 book by Josef Albers . . . isn’t just for aspiring artists. Its mesmerizing illustrations are a revelation for anyone interested in color theory and human perception.”—Pilar Viladas, New York Times

“A visionary work.”—Malcolm Jones, Newsweek

Josef Albers’s classic Interaction of Color is a masterwork in art education. Conceived as a handbook and teaching aid for artists, instructors, and students, this influential book presents Albers’s singular explanation of complex color theory principles.

Originally published by Yale University Press in 1963 as a limited silkscreen edition with 150 color plates, Interaction of Color first appeared in paperback in 1971, featuring ten color studies chosen by Albers, and has remained in print ever since. With over a quarter of a million copies sold in its various editions since 1963, Interaction of Color remains an essential resource on color, as pioneering today as when Albers created it.

Fifty years after Interaction’s initial publication, this anniversary edition presents a significantly expanded selection of close to sixty color studies alongside Albers’s original text, demonstrating such principles as color relativity, intensity, and temperature; vibrating and vanishing boundaries; and the illusion of transparency and reversed grounds. A celebration of the longevity and unique authority of Albers’s contribution, this landmark edition will find new audiences in studios and classrooms around the world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Interaction of Color, the landmark 1963 book by Josef Albers, . . . isn’t just for aspiring artists. Its mesmerizing illustrations are a revelation for anyone interested in color theory and human perception.”—Pilar Viladas, New York Times

“One of the most beautiful books in the world. . . . Interaction of Color is not solely for artists, though generations of them certainly owe Albers a debt. It is for anyone who wants to get under the hood and understand why and how we see the world the way we do. . . . A visionary work.”—Malcolm Jones, Newsweek

“For the historical insight and lucidity our color-drenched era could definitely use, the 50th-anniversary edition of Interaction of Color, by the Bauhaus-bred artist and teacher Josef Albers, is especially worth examining.”—Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic

“The most comprehensive and intelligent . . . book we have yet on this subject. It is an indispensable volume for the artist, architect, or teacher who finds a greater challenge in discovery than in a ‘safe’ color system.”—Architectural Forum

“In his single book . . . Josef Albers presents what would be equivalent to a complete course on colour theory.”—Inkbot Design

“The best introduction to Albers’s work—Albers’s own Interaction of Color, which I highly recommend.”—New York Magazine

“Interaction of Color, with its illuminating visual exercises and mind-bending optical illusions, remains an indispensable blueprint to the art of seeing. . . . An essential piece of visual literacy.”—Maria Popova, Brain Pickings

“One of the most important books on color ever written.”—Michael Hession, Gizmodo

“Will a paperback version preserve the original value of Albers’ text? . . . The answer is an enthusiastic yes, for here is a book which belongs in the studio and classroom that for years has been available only in the best university.”—Arts Review

“One of the most influential artist-teachers of the century, Albers is best known for his squares—a geometric form to which he has been ‘paying homage’ throughout the years. . . . Interaction of Color is a record of an experimental way of studying and teaching color. . . . What he says will be useful in any kind of painting.”—American Artist

“[An] influential classic [that] has inspired artist and designers everywhere.”—Cool Hunting

“This handbook for artists, teachers, and students, by one of modernism’s great artists and thinkers, has been expanded to include nearly 60 color studies.”—Dwell

Selected as a 2007 AAUP University Press Book for Public and Secondary School Libraries

“The text of Interaction of Color provides the careful reader with the content of Josef Albers’s famous color course. His teaching is based on learning by direct perception, not by theories or color systems. There are many books on color on the market, but no one combines eyesight with such profound insight as Josef Albers does in Interaction of Color.”—Hannes Beckmann

About the Author

Josef Albers, one of the most influential artist-educators of the twentieth century, was a member of the Bauhaus group in Germany during the 1920s. In 1933 he came to the United States, where he taught at Black Mountain College for sixteen years. In 1950 he joined the faculty at Yale University as chairman of the department of design. Albers was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1968 and was professor emeritus of art at Yale until his death in 1976. Nicholas Fox Weber is executive director of the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yale University Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 28, 2013
Edition ‏ : ‎ 50th Anniversary
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0300179359
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0300179354
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #19,763 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #21 in Graphic Design Color Use
- #48 in Design & Decorative Arts

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Josef Albers

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Josef Albers, one of the most influential artist-educators of the 20th century, was a member of the Bauhaus group in Germany during the 1920s. In 1933 he came to the United States, where he taught at Black Mountain College for sixteen years. In 1950 he joined the faculty at Yale University as chairman of the Department of Design. The recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees, Albers was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1968 and was professor emeritus of art at Yale until his death in 1976.

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Customers praise the book's color theory, noting its wonderful examples and superb quality. Moreover, the information quality receives positive feedback, with customers finding it instructive and a great resource for artists.

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Color theory Information quality

54 customers mention "Color theory"47 positive7 negative

Customers appreciate the book's color theory content, praising its wonderful examples and lessons on how to see and use color. One customer notes the superb quality of the colors, while another highlights the optical effects of color interaction.

"...of relatively simple color paper compositions to illustrate the effects of color interaction...." Read more

"...The exercises are not so easy. Though color paper is recommended I learned a lot by mixing paint. Helpful and valuable discoveries through it. ..,..." Read more

"...The book contains a few color plates in the back - they get the point across, but don't make for a visually engaging reading experience...." Read more

"this book is so easy to understand. It helps you know how to use colors." Read more

52 customers mention "Information quality"52 positive0 negative

Customers find the book instructive and helpful for artists, with one customer noting it provides both commentary and visual examples.

"...Though color paper is recommended I learned a lot by mixing paint. Helpful and valuable discoveries through it. .., and a great gift." Read more

"Great bookk with lots of visual insights." Read more

"...Anyway I'm giving it 2 stars because I think the concepts are still worthwhile, just don't like that the author tries to make a fool of the reader" Read more

"Fast delivery, the content of the book as expected. A must to have book for anybody involved in visual arts" Read more

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Ruiyu Han
Good quality
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2025
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

As good as a new book!

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Bob Conway
THE book to get to learn how colors interact when seen with the human eye-brain system.
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2020
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Josef Albers was first a student, then an instructor, and finally a professor at the famous Bauhaus school of art and design in pre-war Germany. When the Nazis forced the closure of the Bauhaus in 1933, Albers emigrated to the United States where he was made head of the Black Mountain College School of Art, in North Carolina. He later joined the design faculty at Yale University.

All along the way, Albers sought to extend and deepen his understanding of how people perceive color, both to use it in his own work and to teach art students about how color juxtapositions interact with human vision.

With this book, he lays it all out with a set of exercises using high-quality reproductions of relatively simple color paper compositions to illustrate the effects of color interaction. The color plates are of sufficiently high quality to work quite well for anyone with normal vision. Even people with colorblindness can probably benefit from most of the illustrations and surely from Albers' lucid descriptions of the effects. What you learn will likely be useful in your work no matter whether you are a painter, printmaker, worker in stained glass, or an interior decorator.

Note that this book is NOT about teaching artistic composition or technique. It is laser-focused on its subject matter -- the optical effects of color interaction. You will find no better book for this, although I would also highly recommend "The Elements of Color" by Johannes Itten (who was one of Albers' teachers and colleagues in the Bauhaus) as a fine complement to Albers' book. Get them both!

There are more expensive editions of this book available, but this 50th anniversary softbound edition, which should be well within the budgets of most art students, is more than adequate for learning how colors interact.

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121 people found this helpful

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dt
A great resource for artists
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2024
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This book was a gift. The synopsis made me think the book would help her understand color theory and lead her to experiment more with her paints. She loves it.

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2 people found this helpful

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azil
Clear learning about color
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2024
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This book was purchased for a friend. I have the edition that was sold 50 years ago. The exercises are not so easy. Though color paper is recommended I learned a lot by mixing paint. Helpful and valuable discoveries through it. .., and a great gift.

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7 people found this helpful

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Kathleen
Over my head.
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2023
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This book is something I would like if trained as an artist or practicing art professionally.
It reads somewhat like a text book, although an enjoyable and thoughtful text.

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10 people found this helpful

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DFK
Fast delivery
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2024
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Haven’t had time to read but saw an interview with quotes from the book which drew me in

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fgfaria
A superficial review
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2020
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Well, this edition is approx. 6 "x 9 1/4", sturdy built paperback has one of those soapy feel matte covers... you know the one makes you want to run your finger nails over it, and approx. 200 pages on heavy glossy paper and for that reason I would recommend getting an used copy not only saving but just so someone was already been in between its legs so you won't have to work of breaking it in order to see in full-ratio double sided page composition of text on left, left centered small texts just as poems, and color plate on the right.

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17 people found this helpful

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Kathy Johnson
Seeing is Believing
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2024
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Great bookk with lots of visual insights.

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Eberhard Lutz
Die Musik der Farben
Reviewed in Germany on April 12, 2020
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Josef Albers’ “Interaction of Color. 50th Anniversary Edition” ist 2013 bei der Yale University Press in New Heaven und London erschienen. Das Buch ist eigentlich als Vorlage für den Kunstunterricht gedacht. In 25 Lektionen entwickelt Albers eine experimentelle Phänomenologie der Farbe. Richtig wertschätzen wird man die Schrift erst dann können, wenn man die darin beschriebenen Experimente selbst nachvollzieht.

Zentrale Erkenntnis dieses Buches: keine Farbe steht für sich allein und keine Farbe erscheint so, wie sie physikalisch ist. Farben sind demnach Erscheinungen, das heißt Phänomene im wörtlichen Sinne. Sie sind so, wie sie sich zeigen. Albers These: „Color is the most relative medium in art.” (Seite 8) Das bedeutet sie zeigen sich immer nur in bestimmten Verhältnissen, sie existieren nicht an und für sich sondern immer in einem bestimmten farbigen, das heißt optischen Kontext. Musikalisch gesehen, sind Farben immer nur als Farb-Akkorde, das sind Klänge verschiedener Farben gemeinsam zu haben. Demnach erscheinen Farben immer nur in Gestalten, das heißt Zusammenhängen sich gegenseitig bedingender Elemente, wie etwa eine Melodie mehr ist als die Summe der Töne, die sie bilden. Die Musik ist eine Erfahrung in der Zeit, die sich aus der Gleichzeitigkeit und dem Nacheinander von Tönen ergibt. Farben dagegen – so Albers – sind ein Ereignis im Raum. Sie sind dabei im Vergleich zu Tönen weniger klar auszumachen. Es gibt kein Analogon zum absoluten Gehör im Bereich der Farbe.

Da das Spiel der Farben unendlich komplex ist und sich aus vielen verschiedenen Spannungsbögen zusammensetzt, muss Albers den klassischen Versuchen einer Harmonielehre der Farbe eine Absage erteilen. „Again: knowledge and ist application is not our aim; instead, it is flexible imagination, discovery, invention – taste.“ (Seite 43) Er beschränkt sich darauf einige der grundlegenden Eigenschaften der Farberscheinung herauszuarbeiten. Es gibt zwar „Regeln“ für das komplexe Zusammenspiel der Farben, aber keine „Rezepte“ für dessen Gelingen. So beispielsweise das Weber-Fechner-Gesetz der Farbmischung: die linear gleichmäßige visuelle Erscheinung der Abdunkelung eines Farbtons setzt ein geometrisches (heißt: quadratisches 2,4,8…) Mischungsverhältnis voraus. Solche Regeln gelten selbstverständlich immer, sagen aber wenig über ihre mögliche Anwendbarkeit aus.

Weiteres wesentliches Moment der Farberscheinung, das Albers herausstreicht, ist ihr synästhetischer Charakter. Farben regen in ihrer Wahrnehmung die Spannungspole anderer Sinnesbereiche an. Wir erfahren das Spektrum der Farberscheinungen als leicht oder schwer, warm oder kalt, trocken oder feucht, rau oder glatt. Daraus ergeben sich, aufgrund der Räumlichkeit der Farberfahrungen, präpositionale Verhältnisse. Farben treten hervor oder zurück, sinken oder steigen, es gibt ein Hinein und ein Heraus. Die Farbe ergreift uns gewissermaßen mit allen Sinnen.

Josef Albers‘ „Interaction of Colors“ ist eine kurze, prägnante Einführung in das Thema der Farbe. Das Buch ist in seinen Aussagen zurückhaltend, dafür aber in seinen experimentellen Vorschlägen inspirierend. Ich sehe „Interaction of Color“ auf einer Ebene mit den Arbeiten von Kandinsky und Itten zum selben Thema.

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Egbert van Dalen
Niet om door te komen
Reviewed in the Netherlands on October 31, 2024
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Aan dit zeer theoretische boek heb je niets als je praktische informatie zoekt. Uiterst saai.

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Allan cortes
bien
Reviewed in Mexico on May 14, 2024
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
bien

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Amazon Customer
Until you’ve read this book, you do not really understand colour … seriously
Reviewed in Canada on June 1, 2023
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This book is beyond fascinating - so much about what colours do to and with each other - the illustrations show the effects described and some honestly feel like magic, the effect is so profound and unxpected. I defy anyone to not be amazed by this book, truly. This is beyond yourbasic colour wheel, beyond primary & secondary colours, tints and shades. Here is what real colours actually do, optically, through our vision, in a world of changing lights and alongside other colours. Don’t let the initial text put you off, the images displaying the effects described are where the magic is :-)

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swxfuedrcs
THE Best
Reviewed in Turkey on January 3, 2025
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Literally THE best book i have ever obtained for photography. It has a unique way of describing details about colors and how people see/think about colors. How to compose correctly for the attention... I highly recommend this to anyone who is willing to learn about the color theory.

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Interaction of Color: 50th Anniversary Edition Paperback – Illustrated, June 28, 2013

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5.0 out of 5 stars Die Musik der Farben

1.0 out of 5 stars Niet om door te komen

5.0 out of 5 stars bien

5.0 out of 5 stars Until you’ve read this book, you do not really understand colour … seriously

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Best

Die Musik der Farben

Niet om door te komen

bien

Until you’ve read this book, you do not really understand colour … seriously

THE Best