A color that’s paired with red and then with white so often, it’s not often shown as its own color.
The chapter’s title screens are a stark black with Helvetica, creating a sharp delineation in time and mood.
I think it’s best to think of “Black” within the “Darkness as Metaphor” theme. The darkness that surrounds Danny within the side cupboard changes the entire color spectrum of his sweater. What is sage green and burnt red becomes red, white, and blue.
As Wendy reads Jack’s work, he’s shown stepping out of black space in the foreground to scare her.
From 4pm on, especially at the end of the film, it isn’t just night, it’s pitch black.
Black as a singular color is difficult to talk about as it’s paired with white and then red so heavily.
Perhaps it’s encapsulated best within the “Darkness as Metaphor” theme, because Kubrick will have things “come out of the darkness”, like Jack in No.64 or Wendy in No.45.
In this image · No.2
The transition from neutrals to dark black connects the opening landscape with later darkness.