Violetmania

Springtime by Claude Monet, Fitzwilliam Museum

The caption by Monet’s vivid painting, Springtime, quoted the artist saying,

‘I have finally discovered the true colour of the atmosphere. It's violet.’ Apparently Claude Monet became so fixated by the colour purple that he was described by critics as experiencing violetmania. He certainly uses it to great effect in Springtime, evoking for me the bluebell woods we love to visit at this time of year.  

Our word comes from the Greek mania "madness, frenzy; enthusiasm, inspired frenzy; mad passion, fury." All kinds of passions have been dubbed manias but here’s a springtime one to connect with our painting.

Tulipomania - "craze for the cultivation or buying of tulip bulbs," It describes a period during the Dutch Golden Age when contract prices for some bulbs of the recently introduced, fashionable tulip reached extraordinarily high levels. The major acceleration started in 1634 and then dramatically collapsed in February 1637. Many enthusiasts and investors were ruined. It’s considered the first recorded speculative/asset bubble in history.

The extraordinary phenomenon is brought alive by the 2017 film ‘Tulip Fever’ directed by Justin Chadwick and written by Deborah Moggach and Tom Stoppard, adapted from Moggach's 1999 novel. The cast includes Alicia Vikander and Judi Dench; I heartily recommend it.