Where to See Premier Disque: Private Collection, Unknown

Robert Delaunay produced this pioneering composition in 1913, marking a crucial moment in the development of abstract art. The painting consists of concentric circles of vibrant, contrasting colors that create a sense of rotation and dynamic energy.

As co-founder of Orphism, Delaunay sought to liberate color from its descriptive role, allowing it to function as an independent visual force. The poet Guillaume Apollinaire championed this approach, coining the term Orphism to describe art based on pure color relationships. The original oil on canvas has a diameter of 134 cm and belongs to a private collection. This work represents Delaunay's complete break from representational painting.

Created in 1913, Premier Disque represents Delaunay's complete break from representational art. It's one of the earliest purely abstract paintings in France, liberating color from any descriptive function and making it the sole subject.

This is a key work of Orphism, a movement Delaunay co-founded with his wife Sonia. The poet Guillaume Apollinaire named the style, describing art based on pure color relationships rather than recognizable subjects.

Delaunay used concentric circles of contrasting colors arranged according to his theories of simultaneous contrast. The juxtaposition of complementary hues creates vibrant optical effects and a sense of rotation and dynamic movement.

Premier Disque

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