COLOUR STUDY
The peaceful power of light blue Monica Fumagalli ipcm®
We began this journey into the history of colours, their meanings, their most common uses, and some curious facts about them by analysing one of the most popular hues: blue. In this article, we will explore light blue, a shade on the same chromatic scale, and how the history of these two colours is inevitably intertwined to the extent that English, as well as other languages, uses the same word for both.
The origin of the words for light blue tints and shades
L
generically indicate the lighter shade of blue. “Light blue” and equivalent
that distinguish blue and light blue with two different names, calling the latter azzurro, azul, and Azurblau, respectively. These derive from the Arab lāzuward (literally, “lapis lazuli”, the stone characterised by this hue), which originated from the Persian lāz̆ward, an adaptation of the Sanskrit rājāvarta. In Medieval Latin, it became lazur or lazulum; the initial ‘l’ was dropped, probably because it was mistaken for the Arabic article al-, although it survives in the stone’s name. In French, English, and many other languages, there is no term to
ight blue is a softer, less intense shade of blue that seems to help
phrases are used instead. There are, of course, names for specific hues,
us face the world with more serenity. In psychology, it is a symbol
such as “azure” (with the same etymology as described above) and
of spirituality, transcendence, calmness, idealism, and sensitivity
“cerulean” (from Latin caeruleus, “sky blue”, as caelum meant “sky”).
– meanings connected to the intangibility of the sky. It also symbolises research and, therefore, also the eternal dissatisfaction with what we see around us. It encourages reflection and internalisation: using or wearing it gives great confidence in one’s actions and capabilities. In many cultures, light blue is associated with peace and harmony; for example, in some Eastern traditions, it is believed to promote meditation and contemplation. This shade is also associated with the throat chakra and recalls creativity through communication, finding realisation especially in artistic and psychic expression. In interior design, light blue is used in offices because it is thought to promote productivity and creative problem-solving. It is the colour of water, of the sky, of blue jeans, of Mary’s clothes in Christian culture and Krishna’s skin in the Hindu religion, of the planet Uranus, and of the shirts of several national sports teams, including Italy’s. Light blue eyes are rarer than one might think: only 8% of the world’s population have them, although the percentage can reach 40% in northern European countries. According to a study by the University of Copenhagen, between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago, a child was born in Europe with a small DNA defect, a harmless genetic mutation that caused blue eyes: he was the first person to have them, and all those who have them today are descended from this distant ancestor. Even in nature, this shade is relatively uncommon, although with some surprising exceptions that we will discuss later.
The Sistine Chapel frescoed by Michelangelo: in the Renaissance, blue pigments were difficult to find and, therefore, expensive. Pablo Picasso, “The Tragedy” (also known as “Poor People by the Sea”), 1903, oil on panel, National Gallery of Art, Washington (USA).
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Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and German are among the few languages
N. 92 - MARCH/APRIL 2025 - ipcm®