See more objects with the tag color theory, offset lithograph, color wheel, hue, color manual.

Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

1953

  • Work on this object began.

2018

2025

  • You found it!

Book, Hesselgren's Colour Atlas: Colour Manual

This is a Book. It was written by Sven Hesselgren and published by T. Palmer AB.

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Smithsonian Libraries and Archives as part of Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color.

It is dated 1953. Its medium is offset lithograph with collage on paper.

Sven Hesselgren theorized that we have greater color acuity for certain hues—that we are able to distinguish more shades of red or yellow than green. The spacing of the colors on his wheel reflects our relative ability to perceive different colors.

It is credited Gift of Dorothy Nickerson, Smithsonian Libraries, QC495.2 .H58.

  • Color Wheel
  • oil paint on composition board.
  • Gift of Hilaire Hiler.
  • 1960-244-1
  •
  • Textile, Landis
  • linen, polyester.
  • Gift of Jack Lenor Larsen, Inc..
  • 1977-67-6

Our curators have highlighted 2 objects that are related to this one.

Its dimensions are

H x W (open): 19 × 48 cm (7 1/2 × 18 7/8 in.)

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/1108749937/ |title=Book, Hesselgren's Colour Atlas: Colour Manual |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=21 March 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>