Painting ‘without colour’ has long held a fascination for artists and in this striking and original book, the authors explore how and why artists throughout the centuries have chosen to paint in black, white and shades of grey. Sometimes painters used trompe l’oeil monochromatic effects to imitate other media, such as sculpture, printmaking or photography; others have consciously limited their palette as a means of re-focusing the viewer’s attention, while modern and contemporary artists such as Cy Twombly and Gerhard Richter have often found inspiration in pushing black and white to its limits, and in new directions. The authors trace the history of this art form, from the symbolism of sacred images in medieval church ritual to the abstract canvases of the modern era.

With a contribution by Olafur Eliasson.

Accompanies the exhibition at the National Gallery, London 30 October 2017 – 18 February 2018 and the Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf 21 March – 15 July 2018.