Brown

Brown is a warm, earthy color that humans perceive as a mid-to-dark hue between orange and red. It is not a spectral color tied to a single wavelength of light; rather, it arises when pigments mix to absorb light broadly, or when a lighter hue such as orange or yellow is darkened with black or a desaturating agent. In painting and printing, brown is commonly produced by combining red and yellow pigments with small amounts of blue or black.

The term brown derives from the Old English brun. In color theory, brown is often treated as a neutral or desaturated warm hue, and it is closely associated with earth tones. It is frequently regarded as a tertiary color in traditional color wheels, with many cultures recognizing a wide range of named browns such as tan, beige, chestnut, and chocolate.

In nature and culture, brown is abundant and symbolic of the earth. It appears in soil, wood, bark, and many animal coats, and it is linked to stability, reliability, and simplicity. In fashion and design, brown can convey warmth and tradition, or a rustic, natural character. Conversely, it can be perceived as dull if overused or poorly contrasted.

Common shades and pigments include raw umber and burnt umber, raw sienna and burnt sienna, and ochres. Lighter browns span tan and beige, while darker browns range from chestnut to espresso. Brown also appears in biology, such as brown adipose tissue, which is involved in heat production.