Scarlet and crimson refer to red colors made from certain dyes. Ancient cultures placed great importance on processing colored fabric, especially those used for ceremonial purposes such as burials or purification rituals. In the Roman Catholic Church, scarlet is the color won by the Cardinal and is directly associated with the blood of Jesus and the sacrifice.
Scarlet Color – Scarlet Color Meaning and How to Use It
In most western societies, red is the color of love, and when we add descriptive words to a shade of red, such as scarlet red, it takes the color to a different playing field. But what color is scarlet? We will attempt to answer this question as we navigate our way through this article. We will also discuss the scarlet color meaning as well as the various scarlet hex codes so that you can incorporate the color into any design. While many people may shy away from scarlet red because it is a powerful color, after reading this article, we hope you will feel more confident about deciding whether to use this bold color to add a little pizzazz to your home or office.
Table of Contents
- 1 What Color Is Scarlet Red?
- 1.1 Scarlet Red Color: A Brief History
- 1.2 The Meaning of the Scarlet Color
- 1.3 Scarlet Red Used in Famous Paintings
- 1.3.1 Mit Und Gegen (1929) by Wassily Kandinsky
- 1.3.2 Red Hill and Bones (1941) by Georgia O’Keeffe
- 2.1 Dark Scarlet
- 2.2 Flame Scarlet
- 2.3 Medium Scarlet
- 2.4 Safflower Scarlet
- 2.5 Vermilion
- 3.1 Scarlet Red in Interior Design
- 4.1 What Color Is Scarlet?
- 4.2 What Is the Scarlet Color Meaning?
What Color Is Scarlet Red?
Scarlet is a bright red color that carries a slight orange tinge. The traditional scarlet red color is slightly less orange than vermilion. Although not specific, the early recorded use of scarlet as a color dates back to 1250. Red is a primary color and is also one of the more popular colors used by artists over the centuries. The red color ranges from orange tinges to deep, wine-colored hues. Throughout history, the scarlet color has held a special significance worldwide. This warm color is commonly associated with love in Western cultures and remains an attractive color that draws attention.
ContentsScarlet Shade Scarlet Hex Code CMYK Color Code (%) RGB Color Code Scarlet Color Scarlet #FF2400 0, 86, 100, 0 255, 36, 0 Scarlet Red Color: A Brief History
In the 8th century BCE, scarlet dyes were used but were known as Armenian red as described in Persian and Assyrian writings. This bright red color was exported from Persia to Rome, and during the Roman Empire, it was the second-favorite color worn by emperors, with purple being their first choice.
Scarlet and crimson refer to red colors made from certain dyes. Ancient cultures placed great importance on processing colored fabric, especially those used for ceremonial purposes such as burials or purification rituals. In the Roman Catholic Church, scarlet is the color won by the Cardinal and is directly associated with the blood of Jesus and the sacrifice.
The Meaning of the Scarlet Color
Since red is the color of blood, red shades are often associated with danger and, at the same time, also with courage. Bright reds like scarlet red are associated with heat, activity, passion, love, and joy. The scarlet red color symbolizes happiness and good fortune in China, India, and many Asian countries.
Scarlet Red Used in Famous Paintings
From deep, dark crimson red colors to softer reds, this color has been used extensively in famous paintings. Although scarlet red is not specifically mentioned, the bright red hue can be seen in many paintings by famous artistic masters of the past.
Mit Und Gegen (1929) by Wassily Kandinsky
Artist Wassily Kandinsky (1866 – 1944) Date Completed 1929 Medium Oil on canvas Dimensions (cm) 80 x 60 Location The Guggenheim Museum, New York, United States Wassily Kandinsky is one of the more famous Abstract artists from the 20 th century. Kandinsky’s more renowned art pieces portray various shapes and colors that convey a different meaning for those who view the paintings. The painting titled Mit Und Gegen which means “With and Against” in English, which was completed in 1929, shows red hues such as scarlet.
Red Hill and Bones (1941) by Georgia O’Keeffe
Artist Georgia O’Keeffe (1887 -1986) Date Completed 1941 Medium Oil on canvas Dimensions (cm) 75.6 × 101.6 Location Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, United States Georgia Totto O’Keeffe was an American Modernist artist known for her beautiful paintings of large flowers and New York skyscrapers. She was called the “Mother of American Modernism”. In 1905, Georgia O’Keeffe began training at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and then moved on to the Art Students League of New York. One famous painting that appears to contain the scarlet color was created in 1941 and is titled Red Hill and Bones. This painting depicts the hills outside of the artist’s home in New Mexico. Speaking of this artwork, O’Keeffe said; “A red hill doesn’t touch everyone’s heart as it touches mine. . . . Badlands [desert] roll away outside my door, hill after hill—red hills of apparently the same sort of earth that you mix with oil to make paint.”
How to Make Scarlet-Color Paint
Red cannot be created from scratch because it is a primary color; however, you can mix other colors into red paint to create different red shades. Scarlet is a bright, bold red shade with an orange hue. You can create your own scarlet red paint by using an equal amount of red and yellow until you reach your desired scarlet color.
The Various Shades of Scarlet Red
With so many shades of red to choose from, it can be daunting to decide on the perfect shade. Scarlet red has many variations, ranging from vermilion to dark scarlet. We have listed a few of the more popular shades of this bold red color.
Dark Scarlet
The shade known as dark scarlet is exactly as its name suggests – a deep, dark red shade. It is much darker than traditional scarlet and is quite a popular choice of nail polish color. Dark scarlet can often be confused with maroon or even burgundy.
Scarlet Shade Hex Code CMYK Color Code (%) RGB Color Code Scarlet Color Dark Scarlet #560319 0, 97, 71, 66 86, 3, 25 Flame Scarlet
This scarlet shade contains orange undertones, which is probably why the word “flame” was added to its name. In 2020, flame scarlet was announced as one of the colors of the year by Pantone.
Scarlet Shade Hex Code CMYK Color Code (%) RGB Color Code Scarlet Color Flame Scarlet #CD212A 0, 84, 80, 20 205, 33, 42 Medium Scarlet
The medium scarlet shade is created by mixing pink and red. This variation of the traditional scarlet color can be described as a pinkish-red shade. The pink in medium scarlet is quite apparent when compared to traditional scarlet red.
Scarlet Shade Hex Code CMYK Color Code (%) RGB Color Code Scarlet Color Medium Scarlet #FC2847 0, 84, 72, 1 252, 40, 71 Safflower Scarlet
This variation of the scarlet color can be seen in the safflower plant’s thistle-like flowers, which range from yellow to scarlet shades. Extracted pigment from the safflower plant can also be used to dye textiles. Using safflower as a dye is an ancient Korean tradition.
Scarlet Shade Hex Code CMYK Color Code (%) RGB Color Code Scarlet Color Safflower Scarlet #E83929 0, 75, 82, 9 232, 57, 41 Vermilion
Up until the 19th century, the vermilion pigment was created using a toxic mineral known as cinnabar. The name “vermilion” was also given to this scarlet-red shade thanks to a dye created from the Kermes vermilion insect, which was used in Europe to create a natural red dye.
Scarlet Shade Hex Code CMYK Color Code (%) RGB Color Code Scarlet Color Vermilion #E34234 0, 71, 77, 11 227, 66, 52
Downloads
- Chemical description: CAS No. 3905-19-9 in Kremer´s watercolor medium.
- Resistance to alkali: 5 (1 is bad, 5 is best)
- Resistance to lime: 5 (1 is bad, 5 is best)
- Resistance to acid: 5 (1 is bad, 5 is best)
- Lightfastness – thinned: 6-7 (1 is bad, 8 is best)
- Lightfastness – medium: 7 (1 is bad, 8 is best)
- Lightfastness – concentrated: 8 (1 is bad, 8 is best)
- ColorIndex: PR 166.20730
- Suitability: Watercolor / Gouache
- Colors: Orange, Red
- Forms: solid
- Solubility in water: soluble
Kremer Watercolor – CPT – Scarlet Red is suitable for Watercolor / Gouache
Kremer Watercolor – CPT – Scarlet Red has the lightfastness thinned = 6-7, medium = 7, concentrated = 8 (1 is bad, 8 is best).
#421008
#360008
#441518
© Kremer Pigmente
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