The blue color indigo (also known as Indigo) is one of the seven colors of the rainbow (or the visible light spectrum) corresponding to one of the darker shades and deeper blue and violet, and was added by Isaac Newton. Indigo was one of the most used colors in antiquity, both in the textile industry and in printing.
There are records of its use in civilizations such as the Egyptian, Roman and Greek, as well as in Peru and Iran. In fact, it is estimated that the first works carried out with this color were made in India, a place that also served as a starting point for its spread to various places in Europe through dyeing.
At present, a large number of meanings have been associated with this color, depending on the specific use that is made and the cultural context that is being taken into consideration.
Meaning
Indigo was formerly known as indigo and glasto. However, some authors indicate that this use of terms is due to the confusion about obtaining the color by means of three different plants, which were subjected to the same dye extraction process.
Indigo was obtained by Indigofera tinctoria, indigo by Indigofera suffruticosa, and glasto through Isatis tinctoria. Therefore, despite these differences -especially in terms of tone-, glasto and indigo are considered synonymous with indigo.
On the other hand, the term originates from the Latin indicus or "from India", to refer to the name of the tincture that was imported from that country. In 1555 it appeared as a common word in our language.
History
The historical background of indigo can be understood by presenting the following events:
-Recent studies have confirmed that the oldest uses of color were made in the Peruvian Andes, 1500 years before the Egyptians, so this could be considered as the oldest use of indigoid dyes in the world.
-Before the previously mentioned discovery, it was believed that the first uses of the dye of this color were made in ancient Egypt, for the dyeing of the bandages of mummies (approximately 1580 BC).
-Due to the complex extraction process, the color was only reserved for the Pharaoh. Therefore, it was visible as a way to demonstrate its importance in the social and political hierarchy.
- India is believed to have been the oldest indigo dyeing center in the world; in fact, mention of this is made in Marco Polo's travel records. Also, the country became the first supplier of this color to other areas of Europe, such as Rome and Greece.
-In pre-Columbian times the Mayans came up with a type of dye with these same characteristics of tone, which was later called Maya blue.
-During the Middle Ages, indigo continued to be an important color and a substitute for the tone obtained from another plant was achieved.
-After the conquest in America, the indigo plantations in Venezuela, Jamaica and South Carolina were the main sources of raw material for obtaining indigo.
-In the S. In the 19th century, the color was obtained through synthetic procedures that allowed its wide use in various parts of the world and for many years, up to the present day.
Psychology
Indigo is associated with a series of meanings that are raised below:
-In the origins of its use it was already related to royalty, luxury and wealth.
-It also means spirituality, facts of life, knowledge, intuition, imagination and perception beyond the obvious.
-Other meanings associated with color are: authenticity, trust, friendship, reason, logic and even internal examination.
-According to the study of auras, people who identify with this color are affectionate, loving and humble, with a nature with a tendency to knowledge and spirituality.
-It is said that its exposure allows to overcome the fear of the dark, and is also used for the treatment of mental illnesses.
-From the religious point of view (specifically in the Hindu religion) the indigo corresponds to the chakra of the third eye.
How is it formed?
Obtaining indigo is achieved through two basic processes:
Natural indigo
As already mentioned above, indigo is obtained from the maceration of the leaves of the Indigofera tinctoria and Indigoria suffructicosa plants.
Due to this, the oxidation of the plant takes place and the particular shade between dark blue and violent is produced. From this a paste is obtained that is used to dye any type of material.
Although these plants are considered the main sources of color, in other cultures they used other media, such as lapis lazuli and the paste obtained from Indigofera arrecta.
Artificial indigo
Until the end of the s. XIX and principles of the s. XX Indigo was a color that was only obtained naturally. However, the first breakthrough was made by the German chemist Adolf von Baeyer, who managed to obtain the first result of artificial indigo.
Despite taking this step, the process was not considered economical enough to lead to industrialization.
However, in 1890 the Swiss Karl Heumann achieved the ideal synthesis, so it did not take too long to extend this synthesis to other laboratories and industries. The color obtained was called Prussian blue.
In the field of plastic arts, artists use naturally or artificially made pigment (called thioindigo), which is derived from tar. According to the basic colors of the additive and subtractive synthesis, this color has its own characteristics.
It should be noted that indigo as a dye is different from the tone used in other platforms, whether printed or digital.
Applications
-It was used as a dye for cotton garments and for jean (or denim).
-It is also used to give a deep tone to wool.
-It is used in the culinary field as a food coloring.
-It is used to detect abnormalities in kidney tests.
References
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- Indigo. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: April 3, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
- What is the color indigo or indigo. (sf). In What is the… Retrieved: April 3, 2018. In Wikipedia from es.wikipedia.org.
- Indigo dye. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: April 3, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
- The indigo color would have originated in the Andes of Peru 6000 years ago. (2016). In The Nation. Retrieved: April 3, 2018. In La Nación de nation.com.
- Indigo: the color that changed the world. (sf). In Argentine Fashion. Retrieved: April 3, 2018. In Moda Argentina de ciaindumentaria.com.ar.
- Indigo color meaning. (sf). In Meaning of Dreams. Retrieved: April 3, 2018. In Meanings of Dreams from significadosdelossuenos24.com.