Orphism Oil Painting Reproductions

Orphism Art: A Brief Introduction

Orphism was an early 20th century style of colorful abstract art inspired by Cubism. The Orphism Art Movement was instigated by Robert Delaunay and his sister, Sonia Delaunay; it revolutionized Modern Art paintings. In oil paintings by Sonia and Robert Delaunay, contrasting and complementary colors came together. These brightly colored shapes created harmonious and balanced compositions.

To discover more about this fascinating art style, read on as we explore Orphism Art, its famous artists, and their famous paintings.

What Does Orphism Mean in Art?

The French art critic Guillaume Apollinaire invented “Orphism” in 1912. Sometimes also known as Orphic Cubism, he used it to distinguish this new art style from Cubism paintings. During a Paris Salon speech, Apollinaire used the word Orphism to describe Frantisek Kupka's paintings. In a further essay of 1913, Apollinaire stated that Orphism art should communicate an untroubled aesthetic pleasure. It should also have a meaningful structure and sublime significance. Due to these academic yet vague definitions, the exact meaning of Orphism remains evasive. As a result, its origins are still the subject of intense debate among Art Historians.

Why is it called Orphism?

The name derives from the Greek musician and poet Orpheus. As such, Apollinaire used the word to suggest painting should be more like music. By this, Apollinaire supported the shift towards colorful abstract paintings representing intellectual concepts rather than real objects. He thought Orpheus was the ideal artist for his focus on mysticism and inner experience. While only loosely associated with Orphism, famous artists such as Francis Picabia and Wassily Kandinsky took inspiration from this musical focus. Sonia Delaunay’s art notably played with lyrical themes. She evokes feelings of depth and movement by using simple geometric forms in conjunction with bright colors. In this way, colorful abstract paintings such as Rythme 1938 epitomize the lyrical and melodic Orphism approach.

Are Robert Delaunay Paintings Orphism?

Despite the label of Orphism, Robert Delaunay described his work as Simultanism. This term derives from Michel Eugene Chevreul’s color theory. Chevreul’s published work in 1839 discusses the way colors look different depending on the tones around them. Inspired by Chevreul, the Delaunays’ paintings used overlapping or interlocking planes of color. They believed contrasting colors enhanced the vibrancy and intensity of the entire artwork. This technique gave their colorful paintings intense luminosity and harmony.

Architectural forms also inspired the Delaunays’ paintings. For instance, Robert Delaunay’s Simultaneous Windows on the City 1912 played on the central motif of windows. After this date, however, Robert Delaunay created more abstract paintings.   Often featuring circular forms, these artworks played with rhythm, depth, and motion ideas. Despite their surface abstraction, Robert and Sonia Delaunay paintings still work with nature. Indeed, in 1912, Robert described how direct observation of the luminous essence of nature was indispensable.

What Art Movement Inspired Orphism?

Orphism stems from Cubism paintings. Like Cubist artists, Orphists were keen to analyze objects into parts. They also challenged understandings of time, space, and depth. Orphism artists generally kept their approach rooted in Analytical Cubism. Nonetheless, their paintings veer towards purer geometric abstraction.  Like Cubist paintings, Orphism started with recognizable subjects. However, the art movement soon transformed these real objects into abstract structures. For the Orphists, color, form, and movement were vital. In addition to Cubism, Robert Delaunay took inspiration from writers and artists such as Charles Henry and Georges Seurat, the originator of Pointillism. Like Pointillist artists who also worked with complimentary colors to enhance visual effects, Orphists believed line, form, and color could work independently.

Why was Orphism Art created?

It is difficult to pinpoint a precise time when Orphism was created. While many Art Historians cite Apollinaire’s lecture, others point toward the Robert and Sonia Delaunay paintings. Apollinaire saw their art as the unification of color and feeling. They focused primarily on sensation, trying to show recognizable subjects exclusively through form and color. In this way, real subjects disappear. Instead, feeling and sensation are the only essential elements.

Orphism oil paintings first appeared at the Salon de la Section d’Or in 1912. A later exhibition at the Paris Salon des Independants took place in 1913. Writing about the latter show, Apollinaire argued Orphism should replace Cubism. But, he wrote, “If Cubism is dead,” then “long live Cubism.” In its place, Apollinaire exclaimed, “The kingdom of Orpheus is at hand!”. By the autumn of 1913, the official Paris Salon showed several Orphism paintings by Robert Delaunay and Sonia Delaunay,  with their colorful paintings appearing alongside now-famous paintings by Francis Picabia and Fernand Leger.

How is Orphism different from Cubism?

Orphism art shares many similarities with Cubism paintings. For example, it uses the Cubist approach of breaking natural forms into geometric shapes. However, Orphism also embraces multiple perspectives and new ways of looking at art. Unlike Cubism, however, Orphism gives priority to light and color. Orphist art focuses on vivid colors making the two movements easily distinguishable. Cubism paintings like Georges Braque’s Pitcher and Violin use a restricted palette of grays and browns.

The Orphism approach takes inspiration from other movements, such as Fauvism painting. Fauve artists’ use of bright colors and simplified compositions was inspiring, bringing colorful abstract paintings into popular demand. Indeed, the Delaunays’ early paintings focused on bright Fauvism colors. Sonia Delaunay's painting Yellow Nude 1908 and Robert Delaunay’s Portrait de Jean Metzinger 1906 illustrate the vibrant art of the time. The development toward architectural motifs and splintered perspectives is clear in Robert Delaunay paintings, such as Eiffel Tower 1911. As a result, these middle-period artworks are more like Cubism paintings. Robert Delaunay’s The City of Paris 1910-12 has several similarities with  Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon 1907.

When did Orphism end?

Orphism effectively dissolved with the outbreak of World War One. Despite this, Robert Delaunay continued painting into the 1920s and 1930s. From 1912 onwards, Orphism became more abstract art and began moving away from Cubism. Sonia Delaunay’s Simultaneous Solar Prism 1914 and Robert Delaunay’s Propeller 1923 show an increased shift to abstraction in art. As a result of these colorful abstract paintings, Orphism art was also a vital part of the transition from Cubism to abstract oil painting.

Orphism Art: Colorful Abstract Paintings

Buy colorful wall art and enjoy the balanced beauty of replica paintings by Robert Delaunay and his sister Sonia Delaunay. Reproduction oil paintings are 100% hand painted. We have been creating replica art since 1996.  Our Money Back Guarantee covers standard catalog paintings.  INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING IS FREE.