What does 'color theory' study in visual arts?

The study of 'color theory' in visual arts primarily focuses on how colors interact and the effects they produce when combined. This encompasses understanding the relationships between different colors, such as complementary, analogous, and triadic colors, and how these combinations can affect composition, mood, and viewer perception. Color theory provides artists with a foundational knowledge to make informed choices about color usage in their work, enhancing the visual experience and emotional impact of their art.

While aspects such as the historical significance of colors and their psychological effects are important in different contexts, they fall outside the principal scope of color theory, which is more concerned with the practical interactions of color in design and artistic composition. The option about creating black and white art doesn’t relate to color theory, as it involves the absence of color itself rather than the study of color interactions and effects.