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Kalko O.V. The influence of the cool color palette of the costume on the formation of the main character’s image in a historical film. Journal of Clothing Science. 2026; 11(1). Available at: https://kostumologiya.ru/PDF/03IVKL126.pdf (in Russian).

The influence of the cool color palette of the costume on the formation of the main character’s image in a historical film

Kalko Olga Viktorovna
All-Russian State University of Cinematography named after S.A. Gerasimov, Moscow, Russia
E-mail: evpatorianka@gmail.com
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5649-1055

Abstract. The article examines the use of a cool color palette in costumes as a tool for shaping the main character’s image in a historical film, using Shekhar Kapur’s 2007 movie «The Golden Age» as an example. This biopic does not fully reconstruct events but offers the director’s unique take on history, bringing Queen Elizabeth I to life through striking visuals. The protagonist features specific color combinations in her costumes that reflect her mindset, emotional state, and actions. This study analyzes the incorporation of green, blue, light blue, and purple hues. The historical analysis of Renaissance fashion trends sheds light on the symbolic meaning of the period’s color palette and how it shapes the film’s visual storytelling. A key factor is understanding the evolution of fashion elements in costumes, revealed through paintings from the 16th–17th centuries. Analyzing approaches to crafting Elizabeth Tudor’s on-screen image deepens our grasp of the costume designer’s mastery of fashion history in «The Golden Age» (2007). The study highlights the symbolism embedded in these cool tones and shows how they influence character development. To assess the harmony of the queen’s cool color combinations and their role in forming her images, it is recommended to view them through the lens of optical properties research, color psychology, and costume history.

Keywords: color harmony; court costume; Elizabeth Tudor; historical cinema; color spectrum

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