Symbolism, meaning and effect of individual colors - Red

Red symbolism

In art, red has two very contradictory meanings. 

It symbolises love, but is also intended as a warning. Basically, red is a warm colour, but it can also sensitise and, to a certain extent, create aggressive moods. 

Red is the lava of the volcano, but also the heart, which symbolises the bond between two people.

Red meaning

When we think of the meaning of red, the first thing that comes to mind for most of us is love. 

Love creates warmth and harmony, it makes us happy and brings balance to the body and soul. In contrast, the colour red has a completely opposite meaning. It symbolises aggression, anger, hatred and rage. 

It symbolises noise and enormous heat, the immoral and the forbidden as well as all danger.

Red effect

No colour is known for more contradictory effects than red. 

It can have a soothing or a warning effect. This is why the context in which red colours are seen and the motif with which they are associated plays a special role. 

While a red heart or a red flower soothes the mind and symbolises love, a red circle with a white centre tells us that we are crossing and entering a boundary.