Movement Orphism

Orphism, or Orphic Cubism, is a term that was first coined by Guillaume Apollinaire in 1912, who quoted "cubism is dead [...] the reign of Orpheus begins." The movement is named after Orpheus, a heroic icon of art, music and poetry in Greek mythology. Apollinaire used the term “Orphism" to describe Robert Delaunay's kaleidoscopic, luminous and almost abstract paintings. It was additionally used to refer to the paintings of his wife, Sonia Delaunay Terk (née Sarah Stern). This movement also refers to the works by the 'Puteaux group,' a collection of painters, sculptors, poets and critics who organised and exhibited at the Salon de la Section d'Or (Golden Selection) showing.

Orphists sought to distance themselves from figuration by using form and colour to communicate the meaning of their works, transitioning from Cubism to abstraction. In Orphic Cubism, artists have complete artistic liberty over the work's content, approaching their canvas in ways that allows them to convey a desired meaning. Orphists prioritise the purity of shape and colour in their works, demonstrating a 'pure abstraction' through the 'simultaneous' contrasting of colours.

This movement entered the American scene a little later with the introduction of Synchronism, a movement that used painting to demonstrate the correlation between colour and music. Orphic Cubism also influenced many modern artists, such as American artist, Patrick Henry Bruce, and members of the German expressionist group, Blaue Reiter.

Robert and Sonia Delaunay

The husband and wife duo met in 1907, and were the central figures to the Orphism movement; ardently creating and working together to introduce art into everyday life. Whilst Sonia was open to experimenting with her art, Robert remained a devoted painter and theoretician; theorising their use of colour and light. The Delaunays used bright colours to lift the heavy blanket of mourning that shrouded post-war Paris, breathing positivity and life into their works. Sonia frequently put herself second, working hard to promote her husband's works, and only recently have her works gained the recognition they deserve.

Contemporary artists of today continue to use Orphist techniques to communicate with their viewers. Discover the artists on Artsper who hypnotise and captivate their audience through vibrant and abstract compositions.

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Movement Orphism

Eiolo

Nailed it Series No.85

Nailed it Series No.84

Oceania too

Optical Flora

Disco Gold

Layered Optica 3 (1)

Nailed It Series No.162

Layered Optics 6

Andamanese Sunset

Blue chess

Etherea

Dunes and rivers

Blue scarfs

Truce with black

Sandy thoughts

Drifting clouds

Softcore pour

It’s been pouring (2)

It’s been pouring

Pour ombré

Bitter orange

Forest drip

Lisb mist

Three body solution

Raining sunset

Thunderous sunrise

Pour-tal

Fluid smear

Eager jester

Four dimensions

Colour complex

Unanimous palette

Green in between

Fluid playground

Sumit Mehndiratta

Three Wise blots

Curva 28/26

Composition No. 448

Liquibash

Drawing 452

Drawing 408

Drawing 405

Composition No.415

Composition No.409

Composition No.404

Composition No.403

Drawing 435

Drawing 430

Drawing 427

Drawing 424

Drawing 423

Composition No. 387

Composition No. 385

Composition No. 384

Composition No. 360

Composition No. 359

Composition No. 356

Composition No. 355

Composition No. 354

Drawing 336

Composition No.352

Composition No.351

Composition No.350

Drawing 338

Drawing 335