4:30 p.m.– 6 p.m.

Lecture by Marek Zágora. Only in Czech.

Colours have always played – and continue to play – a very important role in history and in our lives. Yellow is one of the primary colours, but in today’s Europe it is rarely found in everyday life. However, this has not always been the case. Ancient nations perceived yellow as an almost sacred colour – the colour of light, heat, and wealth. The Greeks and Romans accorded it an important place in their religious rituals, while Celtic and Germanic tribes associated it with gold and immortality. The decline of yellow began in the Middle Ages, when it came to be seen as an ambivalent colour. On the one hand it was the colour of bitter gall and demonic sulphur; it became a symbol of hypocrites, treacherous knights, and Judas. On the other hand, it was also the colour of gold and honey, a symbol of power, joy and abundance. From the 16th century onwards, the role of yellow in material culture continued to decline, and today its symbolism still remains ambivalent. This lecture presents the “European” history of yellow from prehistoric times to the present day.

The lecture will be streamed live on Facebook and the gallery’s YouTube channel.

Advance booking necessary  

free entrance