Subdued colors are those that are muted with the addition of neutral gray and/or white. Subtlety is theis keynote; they are low in contrast, and the emotional impact of their original hues is dampened. These are the colors beloved of Impressionist painters of the 19th century, including Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt, for they seem to hint delicately at shape,light, and movement. Mauve is the color most often seen in a subdued color scheme; a grayed tonal of passionate magenta it is a soft and retiring color, which conveys a bit of wistful longing. Perhaps that is why Victorian windows wore black for one year after their spouse's death and, subsequently, adopted mauve. When combined with its complementary green and yellow tones,mauve takes on a more lively aspect.
There is a faintly retro feeling to mauve whether it is used in art or design. It calls up the Art Deco period of the 1920s and '30s, as well as the more recent Post Modern design of the 1980s.
