Understanding Colours and their Meaning - Pink

 Did you know that Pink is actually pale red 

and

Did you know that the colour of first life on earth could have been pink

Welcome to the most discussed colour in the world - Pink with a hex code of #FFC0CB

Pink might just have over 250 shades which in itself is significant.

History, discovery and other mysteries of Pink

Scientists recently analysed a pigment from a rock sample believed to be more than one billion years old. The pigment colour is pink and the rock samples came from deep under the earth in the Sahara desert. This discover could be the oldest fossil sample discovered yet. The fossil could be a blue-green algae whose molecules look more like pink. 

Pink is not an uncommon colour in nature. Flamingoes commonly found across the world are a combination of pink and white. Pigs are pink, mostly the domesticated ones. Roses are pink too. Cherry blossoms in Japan are a sea of pink. The greatest rendition of pink in nature is the dawn. The earliest description of Pink in literature is found in the Greek poem Odyssey which describes the Goddess of Dawn Eos. She is the one who brings in the light after a night of darkness. 

In the 1700s Pink came into a big way in royalty. All of a sudden rich and noble used pink in their clothing. It was a symbol of luxury and class. 

During the Second World War, when men went off to fight wars, it were the women who made up the workforce in the factories which had come up to support the war effort in United States of America. After the war was over, there were advertisements by the govt to promote women returning to their traditional roles at home. Pink was used to denote femininity and tradition. 

Pink is extracted from two sources. Roots of the common madder plant is used to create a red dye. In ancient India, these roots were used to create the saffron dye which sadhus used on their clothes. Another source of red was from the cochineal insect. This produced a more brighter and vibrant red. But the extraction process was very expensive in the good old days. Once you have red, mixed with white (lime) gives you any shade of pink. 

Elvis Presley who mostly wore white had a pink Cadillac. 

The song "Pink" by Aerosmith has the following lyrics,
"Pink, it's the colour of passion
Pink, it was love at first sight
Yeah, pink when I turn out the light"

Feelings associated with pink

What comes to your mind when you think of Pink? You would be surprised to know that it evokes a large number of diverse feelings and emotions in different individuals. Even a state of mind can interpret pink in a number of different ways. 

Pink is associated with tenderness, sensitivity, femininity, romance, charm, sweetness and energy. It is the only colour which can be both vibrant as well as soothing at the same time. 

Pink in the world of art and fashion

It was during the renaissance in Europe when the art world discovered pink. King Louis in the 1700s had his palace flooded with pink. Infant Jesus was dressed in pink. It became a colour used by both genders.

Post 1950s, Pink entered into the mainstream America. Marilyn Monroe wears pink in the movie, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. 

At the same time we had "The Pink Panther" cartoon character make the first appearance. 

Perhaps the most influential artwork is that of Andy Warhol's Marilyn in Pink.

In modern times, the movement of people wearing all shades of pink to watch the movie Barbie has reclaimed the glory of Pink. 

Pink now represents anything and everything from femininity to beauty and from power to resistance.