Artists often use the color red in their artworks, intentionally, to evoke a range of emotions and meanings. Even if the use of a color was not intentional, the effect can be the same depending upon the context and other imagery and substance within the composition. Thus, color is a succinct and efficient way to provide content and target emotions visually in a range of different artworks, aesthetics, and art historical periods.

The power of semiotics has been long known, appreciated, and utilized. At the core in regard to art, semiotics deals with the meaning in signs, symbols, and iconography. Colors are signs and individually can trigger specific emotions and powerful reactions. That is why they are such potent communicators and widely used in marketing, advertising, and any other activity that might be suggestive, leading and /or subversive.

Consider idioms, which are not the same, but operate culturally in an interesting and similar way. Idioms are phrases with two or a few words in a short phrase that mean something specific and is understood broadly, yet none of the individual words has any relationship to the understood meaning. The best example is, “raining cats and dogs”. Clearly, the two species of animals have never fallen from the sky but just imagine if they did—you get the impact and powerful picture. The use of the word red in a phrase has a specific meaning by virtue of culture and frequent common usage, consider the following examples of a phrase and implied meaning.

red herring – misleading information intended to distract

in the red – having debts, not profitable

red handed – caught in the act of something wrong

red face – blushing and/or embarrassed

red flag – warning sign of trouble or danger

red tape – excessive bureaucracy and rules 

red eye – extreme anger

red letter day – memorable or happy occasion

roll out the red carpet – meeting someone formally

paint the town red – going to bars and clubs

red light district – an urban area with sex clubs and shops

red alert – warning of impending danger