Pink as a color and name is derived from Dianthus plumarius, a flower that's a pale tint of red. Pink was first used as a color name in the late 17th century, although the color has been described in literature as old as Homer's Odyssey.
Through the years, the color pink has been made through many means and methods for painting specifically. While often associated with the demure and feminine, the color pink has meant a wide variety of things to different people. From its rich history, variety of pigments, and varied meanings come explore the diverse meaning behind the color pink.
A Brief History of the Color Pink
One of the oldest descriptions of the color pink is from The Odyssey, Book XII, as “the rosy-fingered dawn”.
While mixing red and white pigments was a common way to create a pink paint “Before the invention of synthetic dyes, pinks could be created by artists using minerals, berries and plant extracts, insects and snails...” according to the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford.
Pink can be found in medieval art in the form of a dye produced “from madder root and/or brazilwood” as dresses worn by women and hose worn by men, according to Amanda Greaves with the Buckinghams Retinue. (A group dedicated to historical reenactment of time from 1450-1500.)
Illustrations from Speculum Humanae Salvationis (Approx 1430)
and in religious art such as the garments worn by The Christ Child.
During the Renaissance, pink was commonly used when painting the flesh color of hands and faces. A mixture of sinopia, a red earth pigment, or Venetian red, and a white pigment called Bianco San Genovese, or lime white produced the pigment called light cinabrese.
Pink reached the peak of popularity during the 18th century when pastel colors were all the rage among the courts of Europe. During this period, pink became the color of both seduction as well as violence.
In the 19th century, pink became a masculine color. Pink ribbons or decorations were often worn by young boys. Young boys would also wear pink uniforms while adult men wore red.
Pink continued being a masculine color until the 20th century when Mamie Eisenhower – the wife of then-president Dwight D. Eisenhower – wore a pink dress as her inaugural gown. Mamie's affinity for pink caused the color to be associated with "ladylike women wear". This association with femininity would later be cemented in 1957 by the American musical Funny Face.
It was also during this century when pink colors became bolder, brighter, and more assertive due to the invention of chemical dyes that never faded. Elsa Schiaparelli, the Italian surrealist designer who invented this chemical dye, mixed magenta with a small amount of white to create a variety of colors called shocking pink.
After World War II in The United States pink and blue became more gendered, likely due to women returning to the home after the war effort. This would fluctuate over time with various political movements, such as the Women’s Liberation Movement of the 1960’s and pre-natal testing of the 1980’s.
Originally used as an identifier badge in Nazi concentration camps, pink triangles were associated with gay men and transgender women. However, it was later reclaimed by queer activist as a rejection of homophobia during the Gay Liberation Movement in the 1970’s and 80’s.
In a modern context within, pink has largely been associated with femininity. Often represented as harmlessness, cuteness, sweetness, innocence, charm, politeness, sensitivity, childhood, and romance. Although this perception is changing through acts of protest by multiple groups, this still holds true in the broader cultural context.
Shades of Pink:
Now that we’ve discussed the color pink’s history and context, let’s highlight some of its most popular shades.
1. Hot Pink
Hot pink , sometimes called “Shocking Pink” in the fashion world, has a vivid magenta color that was frequently featured in art movements of the 20th century, including Pop Art, Art Deco and Abstract Expressionism.
This web color is used for the pink triangle, a symbol of gay pride and gay rights since the early 1970s.
2. Quinacridone Magenta
Quinacridone Magenta is a floral purple-pink color that was first introduced to the paint market in 1958, after synthesizing the Quinacridone pigment. While Quinacridone can come in many warm colors, even yellow, it is most often used for pinks and red pigments.
3. Peach Tone
Peach tone is a fair pink color that is a special mix of a few different pigments. It is frequently used a neutral color since it is more subdued in chroma.
4. Fluorescent Magenta/ Pink
Fluorescent Magenta and Fluorescent Pink are both vibrant, daylight fluorescent color developed in the 1950’s for commercial use. Fluorescent colors were first popularized in grocery store products, such as Tide detergent, but are now seen frequently in protective gear, traffic cones, art installations and even fun patterns in bowling alley carpets.
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Modifying Pink Acrylic Paints
Now that you have a deeper understanding of the color pink and some of its shades, it's time to learn how to make some of your own. As artists, we usually look for the right shade of color to really make our painting pop.
If you don't happen to have the exact shade you need, here's how you can modify your pink acrylic paint to achieve your desired shade.
How to Create Warmer Shades of Pink
If you want to make your pink color warmer, you just need to mix in some yellow or some orange.
How to Create Cooler Pink Shades
To give pink a cooler shade, just mix in some blue.
How to Mute Pink Colors
You can mute the color pink by mixing in a contrasting color, such as a green, to make a brownish shade. You can also use white, black, or gray to produce a lighter, darker, or neutral muted pink.