\’Chromophobia\’ and Western prejudices against colour in ancient Greek and Roman artworks

Some time back New York\’s Metropolitan Museum of Art showcased an exhibition named Chroma on the subject \’chromophobia\’. Before we delve into the details of this art exhibition, let\’s understand what chromophobia actually means. Chromophobia is an intense fear of colours. Most people with this disorder have an extreme aversion to one or two colours in particular. They may also have only fear of bright colours. Such people may get severe anxiety or panic attacks when they see a colour they\’re afraid of.

WHY WAS THIS EXHIBITION SO IMPORTANT?

Through the exhibition, art historians and archaeologists came out with solid proof that ancient Greek and Roman artworks were brightly painted unlike Western prejudices against colour. For centuries, archeologists and museum curators had shown the statues as white in colour while presenting them before the public. The exhibition explored the technicolour heritage in such artworks. Based on research, Professor Vinzenz Brinkmann and Dr Ulrike Koch-Brinkmann revealed ancient colour designs using UV light, creating reconstructions of how Greek and Roman sculpture would have originally appeared, BBC reported. Speaking with BBC, Chroma\’s curator Sarah Lepinski says that the way we see ancient Greek and Roman sculpture isn\’t the way it was first created.

WAS THERE POLYCHROMY IN GREEK SCULPTURES?

Scientific analysis has shown that the ancient colour palette was considerably bolder than imagined. On the basis of scientific analysis, art historians and archaeologists argue that ancient Greek and Roman artworks were brightly painted. Chroma exhibition explored the technicolour heritage of the ancient times. The whole idea was to make the public realise that the way they see ancient Greek and Roman sculpture isn\’t the way it was first created. The ancient colour designs were revealed using UV light. London based artist David Batchelor calls this phenomenon of presenting ancient Greek and Roman sculptures in white as \’chromophobia\’.  Many suggest that the prejudices were built up over centuries, leading to what has been labelled \’chromophobia\’.