<i>L’INDIVIDUO È INEFFABILE E IL COLORE È MORALE. DA GOETHE A KLEE</i>

Abstract

Section 6 of the Farbenlehre (Theory of Colours) by J.W. Goethe is devoted to the effect exerted by colours not only on the “senses” but on the “moral” too. The German poet’s view renews in fact an old tradition. But it is at the same time true that the idea seems to be very influential in the German debate on art – and above all on painting – during the 19th century, reaching the two first decades of the 20th: Kandinskij first of all, but also Klee.