Portugaise by Sonia Delaunay, 1885-1979

Sonia Delaunay, 1885-1979
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Portugaise

Original lithograph in five colours. 1973. Signed in pencil. Numbered in pencil from the edition of 150. Printed and issued Paris, 1973.
Colours: Blue, red, lime green, grey and black.

Excellent impression with fine fresh colours. On pale cream wove Arches paper. Excellent condition. Full margins. Sheet: 25 ½ x 18 1/8ins. Image overall approx: 20 5/8 x 13ins (525x330mm)

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The orchestration of colour within a pattern of free forms to create a type of visual spatial sculpture was the key element of Sonia Delaunay's art. It was whilst she and her husband Robert Delaunay were working together in the 1910's to 20's that they began to experiment with the idea of juxtaposing elements of pure colour, arranged in free abstract forms, to create the appearance of such spatial structures. Robert Delaunay called the ideas 'Orphism' and they were to have a very profound influence on the development of 20th century abstract painting in Europe.

Sonia Delaunay built on these early ideas throughout her life, applying them not only to fine art but also to the applied arts such as textile design. In the years after the Second War, in particular, she played a very major role in the development of European art.

It was also in this post-war period that she turned to making prints. She discovered that the purity and brilliance of colour and anonymity of surface possible in prints allowed even greater scope for visual effect. The sparkle of colour in Portugaise is typical, especially the way that the placing of the very strong areas of red in the centre against differing next-door colours creates the illusion of varying tone within the red itself.