The theory of colors has evolved through the contributions of several key figures, starting with Aristotle in ancient Greece. Aristotle posited that all colors derived from mixtures of light and darkness, identifying white and black as fundamental, with other colors resulting from their blending. His early ideas laid the groundwork for future exploration into the nature of color. During the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci advanced this understanding by recognizing that color was a property of light, categorizing colors into six simple ones: white, yellow, green, blue, red, and black. Da Vinci also noted the impact of atmospheric effects on color perception, furthering the link between light and color.

In the 17th century, Sir Isaac Newton revolutionized color theory through his prism experiments, demonstrating that white light could be separated into a spectrum of colors, identifying red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. This established the scientific basis for the study of color and optics. In the 19th century, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe offered a psychological perspective with his Theory of Colours, emphasizing the subjective experience of colors. Goethe’s work influenced the fields of art and color psychology. Around the same time, chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul developed the color wheel and laws of simultaneous contrast, which had a profound impact on art and design. Together, these figures—Aristotle, da Vinci, Newton, Goethe, and Chevreul—have shaped a comprehensive understanding of color, blending scientific, artistic, and psychological insights.