★Why are some colors obvious to us while others are nearly impossible to perceive? Do we all see the same thing when we look at the world? Since when can a color mean power, danger, purity, or exclusion?
★An evolutionary history spanning from the origin of the universe to human perception, weaving together biology, anthropology, and history to trace how color travels from distant starlight to our eyes, our language, and our social order.
★Juan Scaliter, a veteran in the field of science communication, invites us to look at color without naivety—not as a mere ornament of the world, but as a construct laden with history and consequences. Because color is not just seen: it influences what we perceive, what we value, and the way we make sense of our surroundings.

Why are some colors obvious to us while others are nearly impossible to perceive? Do we all see the same thing when we look at the world? Since when can a color mean power, danger, purity, or exclusion? History of Color delves into these questions to explore a phenomenon we take for granted, yet one that profoundly conditions the way we perceive, think, and organize reality.

Color is not merely a property of light nor a simple biological fact. It is also the result of cultural processes, technical decisions, and social agreements that have varied over time and across space. Perceiving a color involves complex physiological mechanisms, but also learning, language, and collective memory. Hence, colors have not always meant the same thing, nor have they been seen in the same way across all cultures.

Throughout history, color has been closely linked to power, status, and economics. It has driven trade routes, generated enormous profits, and demanded a high material and human cost in its production. Certain shades were reserved for very specific contexts, and obtaining them involved technical knowledge, risks, and inequalities that are rarely visible at first glance.

Juan Scaliter invites us to look at color without naivety – to understand it not as a mere ornament of the world, but as a construct laden with history and consequences. Because color is not just seen: it influences what we perceive, what we value, and the way we make sense of our surroundings.

Juan Scaliter was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and was shaped as a storyteller from a very early age. He began his career in science and cultural journalism at the Latin American edition of Muy Interesante. After moving to Spain, he continued contributing to this publication as well as others such as Quo, Geo, Esquire, National Geographic, Traveller, Psychologies, and Emprendedores. He has also worked in radio and television, with collaborations on RTVE, Cadena SER, Antena 3, and La Sexta. In parallel, he has developed a solid career in science communication and children's literature, his enduring vocation. He is the author of several popular science books and works for young readers, and regularly collaborates with Principia Kids, where he combines scientific rigor and narrative skill to bring knowledge to younger audiences.