Delaunay, Robert

Born Paris 1885. Most of Delaunay’s career was spent experimenting with the abstract qualities of colour. From 1906 he particularly concentrated on the connection between colour, movement and emotion. By 1912 his work was completely abstract and the Formes Circulaires series are some of the earliest non-objective paintings. His work was known as Orphism, nothing but colour and contrasts of colour. Delaunay believed that before his time colour had merely been seen as colouring and not important in itself. He abandoned all traditional methods such as drawing and perspective and worked on his artistic goals merely with the aid of colour. His was a revolutionary character, interested in new methods and expression. ‘Forms Circulaires- Soleil No.3’ 1912/3 was one of the first completely abstract paintings by a French artist, and gave Delaunay a name as a pioneer of abstraction, influencing many other artists. It shows the dynamic power of colour and how optical vibrations could be controlled by the proportion, intensity and surface texture of the colours. These are not descriptions of movements – they are movements. Died Montpellier 1941.