Blue boat on still water Many colouring pencils of different colours. A photo of a black cat with yellow eyes A photo of several bowls of brightly coloured powder. A blue tinted city scape at night. An photo of a multicoloured hot-air-balloon An image of water droplets on an orange background An photo of multicoloured oil-on-water shapes An photo of many green apples Brown material An photo of a purple flower girl looking down in a dark room

The fundamentals of the colour Brown.

  • Earthiness
  • reliability
  • warmth
  • rugged
  • steady
  • Serious
  • Authenticity
  • support
  • simple

Historical Significance:

Brown, as one of the most common colours in nature, has been present since the early days of human expression. Many ancient cave paintings, such as those in Lascaux, France, prominently feature shades of brown derived from earth and clay, signifying its immediate availability and importance. Historically, brown dyes and pigments were often derived from sources like walnut shells, tree barks, and certain roots. Due to its abundance, it was not as prized or sought after as more elusive colours like purple or blue, but its steady presence underscored its foundational role in human civilization.

Cultural Meaning:

In many cultures, brown is associated with the earth and the natural world. It symbolizes stability, reliability, and resilience. Due to its connection to the soil and agriculture, brown often represents fertility and sustenance. In some cultures, brown is tied to simplicity and modesty, often being the chosen colour of the garments of monks or clerics as a symbol of their detachment from material and worldly pleasures.

Symbolic Meaning:

Brown, being emblematic of the earth, carries meanings of foundation, stability, and support. It's also a colour of comfort, warmth, and security. Due to its neutral and understated quality, brown often represents humility and genuineness. It's a colour that, psychologically, can be both grounding and nurturing, offering a sense of wholesomeness and reliability. The symbolism of brown can also lean toward the practical and pragmatic, suggesting attributes of dependability and trustworthiness.

Brown is a natural colour. It is a grounding force in design.

It can be an elegant hue and a cocoon of warmth.

Brown’s strength lies in it’s neutrality and therefore versatility, lending itself to nearly any palette.

Brands | Hershey | M&Ms | Louis Vuitton | UPS | Magnum

The complimentary / opposing colour = Any colour with an opposing tint or shade

Brown nose. (to try excessively hard to please someone)

“God has a brown voice, as soft and full as beer.” - Anne Sexton

“Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun.” - Kent Nerburn

"The colour brown, I realized, is anything but nondescript. It comes in as many hues as there are colours of earth, with is commonly presumed infinite." Barbara Kingsolver