Blue Artworks

Blue pigment can be traced back to 2200 B.C.E. when it was the first color to be synthetically produced in the Nile Valley by Egyptian craftsmen—around the same time the Great Pyramids were built. In the years since, the color blue has captured the gaze of artists, from the ultramarine scarf worn by Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring to the bold hue of Yves Klein’s International Klein Blue monochromes. As the most liked color by both men and women, it’s no wonder many artists gravitate toward the hue, from Henri Matisse to Louise Bourgeois. Below, discover standout works in striking azures, cool indigo, and soft baby blues.