The Anthroposophical System

Rudolf Steiner takes four basic colours, three of which we know and the fourth of which comes as a surprise. After the usual extremes of white and black, the first colour is the strongly represented green of nature. This trio is supplemented by the «colour of human incarnation» – the «colour of human skin» – which Steiner describes more precisely as peach blossom. Each of these four colours is now integrated into the anthroposophical colour system. Because, according to Steiner, the plant is the essence of life, he arrives at the basic idea that «green is the dead image of the life within the plant». Again, according to Steiner, human incarnation is the soul’s image without, itself, being a part of the soul. It is nevertheless alive, and thus forms the second principle of his teaching: «Peach blossom represents the living image of the soul». (Detailed text)


Date: Our portrayal is mainly based on three lectures by Rudolf Steiner held in May of 1921 in Dornach. Steiner’s interest was in The Essence of Colours.

Related systems: Goethe

Bibliography: R. Steiner, «Das Wesen der Farbe», third edition, Dornach 1980; J. Pawlik, «Goethe Farbenlehre», Verlag DuMont Schauberg, Cologne 1974; H.O. Proskauer, «Zum Studium von Goethes Farbenlehre», Zbinden Verlag, Basle 1977.