Color theory is rooted in antiquity, with early musings on color in [[Aristotle]]'s (d. 322 BCE) ''[[On Colors]]'' and [[Claudius Ptolemy]]'s (d. 168 CE) ''[[Optics (Ptolemy)|Optics]]''. The [[Natya_Shastra|Nāṭya Shāstra]] hashad aan early, functional theory of color <ref name="Natyashastra">{{cite web |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-natyashastra/d/doc210153.html |title=Chapter XXIII - Costumes and Make-up |last=Shastri |first=Babulal |publisher=Motilal Banarasidass |date=April 16, 2025 |website=Wisdomlib |access-date=April 16, 2025}}</ref>, considering four colours as primary, [[black]], [[blue]], [[yellow]] and [[red]]. It also describes the production of derived colors from [[Primary_color|primary colors]].
