«Back to Black»

Black draws our attention to the essentials and does not clash aesthetically with other colors. Shiny black surfaces reflect light, while matte ones absorb it. A focus on the color black turns up time and again in product design, fashion, and graphic design, often heralding new movements: Kasimir Malevich’s «Black Square,» Art Deco products in glossy black (Chanel lipstick), Bauhaus design classics (the Breuer shelf), timeless fashions like the «little black dress,» and the clothing style favored by groups ranging from the Existentialists all the way to the Punks. After black furniture and products enjoyed a vogue in the 1980s, white has become the color of choice for the time being, but black still remains a classic.