Simultaneous Contrasts
ArtistSonia Delaunay
Year1913
LocationMuseo Thyssen-Bornemisza

Simultaneous Contrasts (French: Contrastes simultanés) is the title of a series of paintings by Sonia Delaunay created beginning in 1912.[1] The series was inspired by Eugène Chevreul's theory of simultaneous contrast, according to which the perception of color is affected by the presence of adjacent colors.

Background

The Simultaneous Contrasts series grew out of the ideas of "simultanism" established by Delaunay and her husband, Robert Delaunay, in the early 1910s.[2] While shaped by Chevreul's theories, the concept of simultanism also integrated other aspects of perception tied to modern urban life.

During this period, Sonia's interest in light and color was shaped by a variety of factors. The growing prevalence of electric lighting in Paris was one major source of inspiration. Another influence was her connection with experimental poets, most notably Blaise Cendrars, whose work explored the effect of startling juxtapositions.[1]

Content

Several of Delaunay's paintings in the series include identifiable architectural motifs, such as pieces of the Eiffel Tower.[3] But they are largely abstract works, often without any recognizable subjects. In this respect, her series differs from the work of her husband, Robert Delaunay, whose exploration of simultaneous contrast was more integrated with subjects such as windows and the Eiffel Tower.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Buckberrough, Sherry (1980). Sonia Delaunay, a retrospective. Buffalo, N.Y. : Albright-Knox Art Gallery. pp. 28–34. ISBN 978-0-914782-32-2.
  2. ↑ Tate. "Simultanism". Tate. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  3. ↑ "Contrastes simultanés". Centre Pompidou. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
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