Negro. Historia de un color. (Black

Black, a color oft considered to be "neutral," reveals itself in Pastureau's book to have far more significance than its supposed objectivity suggests. With a sociological lens, Pastoureau deftly outlines the history of the color black and its meanings in art, fashion, architecture, and text. The book begins with humankind's first marks, the Paleolithic drawings in the Lascaux caves. While Paleolithic black may have been associated with a fear of the dark, black also lends a hand to the first smudges of humanity and art. Going forward, black markings on white backgrounds lay the groundwork for the invention of print. In early artworks, the color black consistently remains a somber symbol. Black bears represent death and pestilence in medieval paintings, and the color is frequently associated with the devil. However, a shift occurs in later centuries, and one begins to see black worn on royalty signifying wealth, luxury, and sobriety. For the clergy, black conveyed humility and devotion. Martin Luther in particular eschewed bright colors to emphasize the importance of a humble Christian life. With the advent of modernity, black becomes a poetic and elegant color in its own right, calling to mind Coco Chanel and films such as Citizen Kane that used stark contrasts of light and shadow. The images in this book are particularly captivating as black makes other colors pop. A face peering out of a dark shadowed hood becomes more mysterious, and the devil's bright red tongue against his black body looks all the more sinister and bloodied. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries, as well as art history departments.—Laura Torres, Somerville, MA