A color display device and a method is provided that renders images in a way optimized for perception by the human visual system, improving image color quality, and reducing device complexity are provided. The display device uses only two phases of illumination. This results in a reduction in sequential color artifact, cost and device complexity. A first illuminant source is optically coupled to a pixel and is adapted to provide a first color component on a first dual-color axis with a first duration. A second illuminant source is also optically coupled to the pixel and is adapted to provide a second color component on a second dual-color axis with a second duration. The first and the second color components are combined to illuminate the pixel with the first and second colors of the respective first and second durations whereby the pixel is perceived to be illuminated by a single color of a single intensity.