Robert Delaunay

"Homage to Bleriot" 1914 oil on canvas	"Champ de Mars: The Red Tower" 1911 /23 oil on canvas

While not as widely recognised as his peers of the time, Robert Delaunay's work is an important bridge between artistic styles. His use of colour and abstraction helped move the world of art from the soft and pleasant features of Impressionism towards the louder tones of Futurism. His art is a wonderful balance of the two. You can easily see the transformation of Delaunay’s style as you browse through his works: first imitating the Impressionism movement he saw in his early years, then breaking that apart with bolder brush strokes and "deconstructed" images, and finally moving into bright, bold colours of the modern times. Delaunay's work reflects the time period he lived in -- the beginning of the modern industrial age in the 20th century. The Eiffel Tower, probably his favourite subject, is one of the most recognised symbols of that new age. Robert Delaunay is likely never to be considered a master since, alone, he never sent art in a completely new direction. Yet his distinctive and unique style undoubtedly pushed art forward.

Find more at: Guggenheim Collection and try the Collection Selections link for more of his work - its under his photograph.

FACTS  What can be seen in the picture (what is it of?) What is its title? Who was the artist? When was the picture made? Did the artist belong to any particular group? Was there any important event in the artist’s life or in history around the time the artist lived that may have influenced the way the artist thought and worked?

PROCESS What medium has been used? (Oil paint, watercolour, pencil, charcoal?) What techniques have been used? (Thick paint, heavy brushstrokes, brushstrokes going in certain directions, light paint strokes, soft washes of colour, dark tones, light tones, bright colours, dark colours?)

FORM  How is the picture composed? How are the main shapes arranged? How has the artist used line, colour and texture? Are any shapes repeated? Are there curves, spirals, sharp shapes, and angular forms? Why might the artist do this? Are any areas distorted deliberately? If so, why do you think the artist did this?

MOOD What is the mood of the picture? What feelings and emotions are suggested in the work? (Is it happy, sad, peaceful, lively does it create an anxious feeling?) How has the artist created the mood?

LINKS What connections are there between this work and your own? How will this work help you? What can you learn from the composition and the techniques the artist has used?