Final answer:
Hitchcock's use of color in 'Vertigo' is influenced by a tapestry of traditions and artistic movements, with colors like green, lavender, black, and red carrying specific symbolic and emotional significance. It is true that Hitchcock employs these colors with regard to their traditional associations, such as green corresponding to ghosts, which aligns with his use of color in 'Vertigo'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alfred Hitchcock's use of color in 'Vertigo' may be seen as a complex tapestry woven from various traditions and artistic movements, including the customs he grew up with, Post-Impressionism, Surrealism, and Impressionism. Each movement or custom assigns its unique emotional and symbolic values to different colors.
For instance, Surrealism relied on vivid and contrasting colors to convey the inner workings of the imagination and the subconscious, with artists like Chagall using bold reds, and Dalí employing striking contrasts to manifest their unique visions.
The Impressionist movement, on the other hand, sought to capture fleeting moments and atmospheric conditions using dashes of pure, unblended color which would mix optically when viewed from a distance, thereby creating vibrant, lively scenes.
Post-Impressionist artists like Gauguin and van Gogh tapped into the emotional potential of color to provoke feelings and create atmosphere, evident in Gauguin's use of purples to evoke a 'background of terror' and yellow to bring about the unexpected in his viewers.
Color symbolism, while culturally complex, often draws from natural associations where colors like red signify life, heat, and passion, due to its connection to blood, while green often symbolizes new beginnings, freshness, and hope.
Hitchcock's use of green can certainly align with traditional interpretations related to ghosts or spirits, as evident in different cultural color associations. Therefore, it is true that Hitchcock uses colors in 'Vertigo' influenced by traditions related to color symbolism.