Simultaneous
Contrasts: Sun and Moon
(Soleil, lune, simultane 2)
by Robert Delaunay, 1881-1941
Oil on canvas, 53" (134.5 cm)
diameter.
The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Mrs. Simon Guggenheim Fund.
Photograph ©1997 The Museum of Modern Art, New York.1913 (Dated on
painting 1912)
Robert Delaunay was born on April 12, 1885 in Paris, France. His future
wife, Sonia Terk, was born on November 14 of the same year in the Ukraine.
While his family was financially comfortable, allowing Robert to
concentrate on his love of art rather than a profession that might be
reasonably expected to generate income, money did not make life perfect --
his parents divorced in 1889. His mother, Countess Berthe Felicie de Rose,
often travelled abroad which left Robert to be raised by his uncle,
Charles Damour, and maternal aunt, Marie.
In 1902, due to academic malaise, Robert began an apprenticeship in
Belleville with theatre scene painter Ronsin. This two-year stint was
Robert's only formal artistic training of any kind.
Robert's art was exhibited for the first time at the Salon des
Independants in Paris during 1904. The six paintings displayed there,
while undistinguished, highlight the influence that Impressionism played
in his early evolution as an artist.
Robert moved quickly from one artistic style to another. He was
influenced, in varying ways over different period of time, by Jean
Metzinger, Michel Eugene Chevreul, Ogden N. Rood, Henri Edmond Cross, Paul
Cezanne, Georges Seurat, Paul Gaugin, Henri Rousseau, and Guillaume
Apollinaire.
In 1908, Sonia Terk left her studies at the Karlsruhe Academy of Art in
St. Petersburg for Paris. There she marries German art dealer Wilhelm Uhde.
Soon after, Robert first meets Sonia in Uhde's home.
In 1909, Delaunay began his first series: Saint-Severin. His series
featuring Paris and the Eiffel Tower would soon follow. He again exhibits
at the Salon des Independants. This period is the high point of his
"destructive" period of cubist-like paintings.
In 1910, Robert marries Sonia Terk.
In April 1912, Robert begins his painting of "pure" colour in the
Windows series. He writes the manifesto "On Light" which Paul Klee
translated into German for the magazine "Der Sturm." This begins
Delaunay's popularity in Germany. Even today, you will find his work in
many museums there.
In 1913, the "Der Sturm" gallery in Berlin exhibits a one man show of
Delaunay's work. The gallery would exhibit more works in 1919 and 1920,
after the end of World War I.
World War I caught the Delaunays off guard while on holiday in Spain.
For six years, the Delaunays lived in Portugal on what Sonia termed a
"long summer holiday." In 1921, Robert and Sonia returned to Paris. Their
home becomes the meeting place for members of the Paris literary
avante-garde, of whom Robert painted many pictures. Robert's work is again
displayed at "Der Sturm," this time along with the work of Sonia. In 1922,
the Paul Guillaume gallery in Paris holds an extensive show of Robert's
works.
After a period of relative inactivity, 1930 saw Robert again painting
in abstract forms. He also attempted to publish a book, which failed.
Robert's last major works, Rhythms 1-2-3, were exhibited in 1938 at the
Salon des Tuileries. Robert, along with a group of abstract painters, form
the 1st Salon des Realities Nouvelles. At this point, he has fallen ill.
Robert Delaunay died on October 25, 1941 of cancer in Montpellier.
Sonia Delaunay, in Robert's absence, began to be recognized as an
accomplished artist in her own right. She also dedicated much time,
particularly in the 1940's and 1950's, trying to ensure that Robert's work
would be properly recognized by history.
In 1979 a retrospective of Robert's works was held in Japan featuring
both artists. Sonia Delaunay died later that year, on December 5, in
Paris.
Other major exhibitions have recently occurred in New York, Berlin, and
Paris.
Biography source:
http://www.robert-delaunay.net/main.htm
Museum of Modern Art:
http://www.moma.org/collection/paintsculpt/delaunay.html
Other paintings by Robert Delaunay:
http://www.robert-delaunay.net/paintings.htm
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