<p>Disclosed is a dye composition which has high clarity and color developability, while exhibiting excellent fastnesses such as heat resistance, wet heat resistance and water resistance. Specifically disclosed are a triarylmethane compound represented by formula (1) and an oil-based or aqueous dye composition that contains the triarylmethane compound. (In formula (1), Ar1, Ar2 and Ar3 each independently represents an aromatic residue having a carbon atom that is bonded to the central carbon atom; and X- represents a bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide anion or a tris(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)methide anion.)</p>
