Is there such a thing as "pure black"? In this book, Katrin Trautwein shows us how many shades of gray and different pigments can go into creating this special color, to which countless meanings are attached both in Western culture and other parts of the world. By means of high-grade screen prints, the publication makes the wide range of blacks tangible to the reader, belying the notion that black is the mere absence of light. On the contrary, the different black tones are uniquely suited to emphasizing nuances in lightness and darkness. These are the shades that create moods within architecture. A room can be designed without color, but not without light and shadow - without them, it would have no form. The fascinating palette of black tones is accompanied by an essay that illuminates the subject from different perspectives.