What colors are in the "Indian Lake & Dull Violet Black +2" palette?

Indian Lake & Dull Violet Black +2 contains 4 colors: Indian Lake (#c53c69), Dull Violet Black (#1e0e3f), Light Mauve (#9a72aa), Violet (#4f4086). From Sanzo Wada's "A Dictionary of Color Combinations" (1933).

When was the "Indian Lake & Dull Violet Black +2" palette created?

This palette is from Sanzo Wada's 1933 reference work "A Dictionary of Color Combinations" (Seigensha Art Publishing 2010 reprint). Wada documented historical Japanese color combinations from the showa era and earlier periods. The source work is in the public domain.

What style or era does the "Indian Lake & Dull Violet Black +2" palette belong to?

Indian Lake & Dull Violet Black +2 is associated with the showa era and emphasizes red tones. Plate 331 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Indian Lake, Dull Violet Black, Light Mauve, Violet.

Can I use the "Indian Lake & Dull Violet Black +2" palette in my own design?

Yes. The source palette by Sanzo Wada (1933) is in the public domain. This page's curation and metadata are CC BY 4.0 licensed — attribution to colorcombinations.org appreciated but not required for the colors themselves.

Indian Lake & Dull Violet Black +2 — The Dictionary of Color Combinations

About this combination

Combination 331 of 348 in Wada's six-volume 1933 work. A 4-colour grouping of Indian Lake, Dull Violet Black, Light Mauve, Violet, as documented in the original plates.

Historical context

This palette is inspired by the tradition of Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations, which cataloged combinations drawn from centuries of Japanese cultural life. The specific colors here use traditional shikisai names that have been in the public domain for generations.

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Details

Era: Showa
Dominant hue: red
Moods: refined, warm, bold
Colors: 4

Accessibility

WCAG contrast ratios between every color pair. Use the strongest combinations for text; the weakest ones make good decorative backgrounds.

Strongest pair: Dull Violet Black on Light Mauve — 4.51:1 (AA)

Indian Lake·Dull Violet Black3.55:1AA Large
Indian Lake·Light Mauve1.27:1Fail
Indian Lake·Violet1.75:1Fail
Dull Violet Black·Light Mauve4.51:1AA
Dull Violet Black·Violet2.03:1Fail
Light Mauve·Violet2.22:1Fail

How to read this

AAA: Passes WCAG 2.1 AAA for normal text — the highest accessibility bar.
AA: Passes WCAG 2.1 AA for normal text. Standard production requirement.
AA Large: Passes WCAG 2.1 AA for large text only (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold). Avoid for body copy.
Fail: Below WCAG 2.1 AA. Fine for decorative use — not for text.

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Indian Lake & Dull Violet Black +2

About this combination

Historical context

Embed this palette

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Crimson & Navy— 紅と紺

Pale Blue & Vermillion— 浅葱と朱

Celadon & Unbleached— 青磁と生成

Indigo Blue & Silver— 縹と銀

Grass Yellow & Rikyū Grey— 刈安と利休鼠

Royal Purple & Silver— 紫と銀

Red Orange & Pale Lemon Yellow +2

Eosine Pink & Burnt Sienna +2

Light Brown Drab & Vinaceous Tawny +2