1. What is Majorelle Blue?

1.1. Definition

Majorelle Blue (or Marrakech Blue) is a clear, fresh, and intense shade of blue known by various names such as cobalt blue, navy blue, and azure. This stunning hue is named after the French painter Jacques Majorelle. The color consists of 37.6% red, 31.4% green, and 86.3% blue, with a saturation of 64%.

The garden with Majorelle Blue walls at Jardin Majorelle

His most notable work is widely considered to be the Majorelle Garden in Marrakech, Morocco, which is also where the Majorelle Blue color was popularized.

1.2. Historical Background

Majorelle arrived in Morocco in 1917, first visiting Casablanca and then Marrakech – a land known as the “Red City” due to the cement ramparts surrounding the old quarter. In 1924, Jacques Majorelle built his greatest artwork, the Majorelle Garden in Marrakech. He painted the garden walls, fountains, features, and the villa with a very deep blue, which he named Majorelle Blue and patented in 1937 – a color palette that helped refresh the entire arid land of Marrakech.

Throughout the Souks – a vibrant district in Marrakech, you will find a myriad of shades of blue. Gorgeous mosaic tiles adorn the market buildings alongside wicker baskets overflowing with beautifully colored spices and herbs. Across many cities in Morocco, this striking blue can be found everywhere, on painted buildings, doorways, and mosaic artworks.

Blue city in Morocco

Later on, cobalt blue became closely associated with Marrakech.

1.3. Characteristics

This unique shade of blue was not merely a simple new creation for Jacques Majorelle’s Majorelle Gardens project. The inspiration for this color came from the cobalt blue used in traditional Moroccan tiles, the majestic indigo found in the window decorations of Moroccan Kasbahs, and the bright blue seen in the veils of the Tuareg and Berber tribes. The pigment of Majorelle Blue can also be traced back to the dazzling ultramarine blue of lapis lazuli stone.

2. Shades of Majorelle Blue

2.1. Majorelle Blue

A vibrant and unique blue shade created by Majorelle, inspired by the blue tones he encountered while living in Morocco.

A garden featuring Majorelle Blue as the primary color

2.2. Ultramarine

Ultramarine is a blue pigment derived from Lapis Lazuli stone, which influenced Majorelle Blue and was later used to create International Klein Blue by artist Yves Klein.

Lapis Lazuli is a semi-precious blue stone predominantly found and mined in Afghanistan. It has been mined for over 9,000 years and was used to produce the natural pigment of ultramarine. It was widely used in oil paints until the 19th century when synthetic pigments were developed.

2.3. Chefchaouen Blue

No blog post about Blue in Morocco would be complete without mentioning the blue city – Chefchaouen in northwestern Morocco. There are many theories as to why the buildings are painted blue. Some say it was to keep mosquitoes away, others say it represents the color of the sea, while others suggest that Jewish refugees introduced the blue color, among other theories.

This is a muted, deeper version of classic Majorelle blue and ultramarine. It is fascinating to see how these different shades interact with one another.

3. Applications of Majorelle Blue

Majorelle Blue has been utilized in numerous decorative applications across retail spaces, art galleries, furniture, walls, floors, and more. Many color enthusiasts incorporate this blue hue into virtually anything they can.

And one of the boldest applications that must be mentioned is wall and floor tiles. Previously, tiles were merely known as raw building materials in basic shades of white and gray. But today, tiles are also considered Art. They appear in much more vibrant and daring colors, such as the various shades of Majorelle Blue.