"White" is the latest volume by M. Pastoureau, complementing his previous research on the history of color in Western Europe over the centuries. Acknowledging the debates on whether white is a color, the author suggests considering its full chromatic status in historical analysis.

This time, the French medievalist explores how white was perceived at different times: was it synonymous with colorlessness? Did it always have a positive connotation? The book examines various facets of white, its evolution from a color of religious cult (analogous to the sacred) and monarchy to its active incorporation into sports and medical fields in modern history, as well as contemporary notions of hygiene.

Pastoureau pays special attention to the dualism and pairing of white-black and white-red, where these colors become each other's antitheses. This study sheds light on the fluid symbolism of white and its role in different historical contexts from ancient times to the present day.

Michel Pastoureau is a historian and medievalist, professor at the Practical School of Higher Studies in Paris, and the author of the books "Black," "Blue," "Green," "Red," "Yellow," and "The Devil's Cloth: A History of Stripes and Striped Fabric," published by "NLO."