Rozin, V. M. Commentaries on N. N. Volkov’ Book ‘The Color in Painting’

Abstract: The article presents commentaries on a famous book written by N. Volkov ‘The Color in Painting’. In his book Volkov tried to create the theory comparable to the theories in music studies. However, comparison of color in painting with the musical sound shows that it is rather impossible. Rozin points out that Volkov distinguishes between the color as an art form and coloristic art events which refer to artistic reality. Rozin discusses peculiarities of artistic reality in painting and analyzes the two color systems (offered by Newton and Goethe) compared by Volkov. Rozin also establishes and substantiates the hypothesis about the role of these color systems in painting being comparable to the ‘single point perspective’ concept. The other hypothesis is based on Rozin’s analysis of the concept of ‘expression’ of human feelings and ideas as it is presented in art studies. Rozin questions this concept and proves quite the opposite. Based on Rozin, the development of art and ‘color practice’ constitute the emotional life of human but not vice versa. The research article is based on such methods as the comparative analysis, problematization, reference to the author’s teaching about psychic (mental) realities as well as his studies of art and music. As a result, Rozin has managed, in some ways, to distinguish between music and color practice, provide a substantive commentary on N. Volkov’s book emphasizing the most interesting provisions of that book, discuss peculiarities of artistic reality which events are described based on the color and establish the hypothesis about the role of the color concepts offered by Newton and Goethe.

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