Black & White

Colours, light and dark play a major role in the symbolism of art, cultures, religions, and history. In the West, white is usually associated with purity or peace and it is seen as a representational colour in births, baptisms and weddings. On the other hand, in many African cultures white is the symbolic colour of death and mourning. These colours are used by painters and sculptures and have transcended all styles from traditional oil painting to abstract or pop art. In photography, black and white is usually associated with vintage and historical photography but the feel of the monochrome print also fascinates modern artists.