Meaning: The quote you provided is a statement made by Gabriel Lippmann, a prominent scientist known for his work in the field of physics and color photography. In this quote, Lippmann is referring to the process of color perception and the way in which colors are perceived by the human eye.

Lippmann's statement is related to his groundbreaking invention, the Lippmann plate, which revolutionized color photography. The Lippmann plate, also known as the interference plate, was a significant advancement in the field of photography as it allowed for the capture of natural color images without the use of dyes or pigments.

In the quote, Lippmann explains that the plate, at each point, only reflects back to the eye the simple color that is imprinted on it. This is a reference to the way in which the interference plate works. The interference plate consists of a layer of fine-grained silver halide emulsion placed on a reflective surface. When light falls on the plate, it forms interference fringes that correspond to the colors in the scene being photographed. These fringes are then fixed permanently on the plate, creating a natural color image.

Lippmann further explains that the other colors in the image are destroyed by interference. This refers to the process of interference and how it selectively reflects and cancels out certain colors, resulting in the perception of the constituent color at each point in the image. This unique property of the interference plate allowed for the creation of color photographs with an unprecedented level of accuracy and fidelity.

Lippmann's work with the interference plate earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1908, making him the youngest person to have received the Nobel Prize in this category at the time. His invention had a significant impact on the field of photography and paved the way for the development of modern color photography techniques.

In addition to his contributions to color photography, Lippmann made significant contributions to the fields of electrochemistry, thermodynamics, and acoustics. His work has had a lasting impact on the scientific community and has been instrumental in shaping our understanding of various physical phenomena.

Overall, Lippmann's quote encapsulates the essence of his groundbreaking work in color photography and the innovative principles behind the interference plate. His insights into the nature of color perception and the underlying mechanisms of light interference continue to be relevant and influential in the realm of scientific research and technological advancements.