| Simultaneous Contrasts | |
|---|---|
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| Artist | Sonia Delaunay |
| Year | 1913 |
| Location | Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid |
Simultaneous Contrasts (French: Contrastes simultanés) is the title of a series of paintings created by Sonia Delaunay, 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.
The Simultaneous Contrasts series grew from the ideas of "simultanism" established by Sonia 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]
Several of Delaunay's paintings in the series include identifiable architectural motifs, such as parts of the Eiffel Tower.[3] But they are largely abstract works, often without any recognizable subjects. In this aspect, her series differs from the work of her husband, Robert Delaunay, whose exploration of simultaneous contrasts was more integrated with subjects such as windows and the Eiffel Tower.[1]