Michel Chevreul, Color Contrast Diagram, 1839
Color contrast diagram illustrating the phenomenon known as simultaneous contrast. Diagram shows how the vividness of a color effects its surrounds. When looking at colors on a white background a halo of complementary color is perceived around the color, which is proportional to the color's brightness. This occurs because the brain exaggerates differences in hue and brightness, making juxtaposed colors appear more different than they actually are. Michel Eugène Chevreul (August 31 1786 - April 9, 1889) was a French chemist whose work with fatty acids led to early applications in the fields of art and science. He is credited with the discovery of margaric acid, creatine, and designing an early form of soap made from animal fats and salt. In 1813 Chevreul was appointed professor of chemistry at the Lycée Charlemagne, and subsequently undertook the directorship of the Gobelins tapestry works, where he carried out his research on color contrasts. In 1839, he published the results under the title De la loi du contraste simultané des couleurs( The Principles of Harmony and Contrast of Colors). He lived to 102 and was a pioneer in the field of gerontology. He is also one of the 72 people whose names are inscribed on the Eiffel Tower.
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