Originally published on Art UK and BBC Arts.

Blue moon. Blue Monday. Blue blood. Blue-collar worker.

Historically, the colour blue has had a wealth of connotations. Once believed to have mystical powers in the ancient world, centuries later the colour was associated with royalty, before blue dye was used for uniforms in the navy, hospitals and industrial factories.

Today, psychologists claim that blue is hardwired into the human psyche and contributed to our evolutionary development as hunter-gatherers, who once learnt to survive in the wild among the blue skies and waters. The power of blue is so accepted that designers often choose the colour to decorate offices, believing research that it boosts productivity and feelings of calm...

Read the full article on Art UK.