Title

  • White: there is a kind of white that is more than white, and this was that sort of white' David Batchelor, Chromaphobia, 2000

  • Russet: Carters, ploughmen, shepherds and threshers of corn shall not wear no manner of cloth but Russet. Statute of Parliament under Edward III, 1363

  • Sap Green: underside of lower wings of orange tip butterfly Werner's nomenclature of colours 1814
    (used by Charles Darwin aboard the Beagle to create descriptions of what he saw)

  • Deep Reddish Brown: breast of Pochard and neck of Teal Drake Werner's nomenclature of colours 1814
    (used by Charles Darwin aboard the Beagle to create descriptions of what he saw)

  • Bluish Black: Crowberry and Black Cobalt ochre Werner's nomenclature of colours 1814
    (used by Charles Darwin aboard the Beagle to create descriptions of what he saw)

  • 'How clever of you, Mr Parkinson, also to know that pink is the navy blue of India.'
    Diana Vreeland on Norman Parkinson 1956

  • Orpiment: made of alchemy.
    'a handsome yellow more closely resembling gold than any other colour'
    Cennino Cennini 15th century

  • 'Yesterday and tomorrow cross and mix on the skyline. The two are lost in a purple haze. One forgets, one waits.'
    Carl Sandburg 1878-1967

  • “I like good strong words that mean something...”
    Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

  • “such hours are beautiful to live, but very hard to describe...”
    Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

  • “I've got the key to my castle in the air, but whether I can unlock the door remains to be seen.”
    Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

  • “But please hug and kiss me, everyone, and don't mind my dress, I want a great many crumples of this sort put into it today.”
    Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

  • "What shall you do all your vacation?’, asked Amy.
    "I shall lie abed and do nothing", replied Meg.”
    Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

  • “Be comforted, dear soul! There is always light behind the clouds.”
    Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

  • "Sail forth! The white, free chasm, infinity, is before us"
    Kazimir Malevich, White on White series

  • “Jo had learned that hearts, like flowers, cannot be rudely handled, but must open naturally…” Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

photographs by Matthew Donaldson