Arc-en-Ciel (1913)

Dated 1913, "Arc-en-Ciel" is an artwork by Robert Delaunay. The catalogue places it in Abstract. The format is landscape. Background on Abstract: Movements of later decades, including Abstract Expressionism and geometric abstraction, carried non-representational ideas into new scales and materials. It emerged in the early twentieth century, when several artists in Europe and Russia developed non-representational painting during the 1910s. Historical background, 1913: The first decades of the twentieth century were a period of rapid experiment, with Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, and the first abstract painting appearing within a few years of each other. Dada and Surrealism followed the First World War, the Bauhaus school was founded in 1919, and Art Deco became the fashionable decorative style of the 1920s and 1930s.

On onlly.art "Arc-en-Ciel" is sold as a digital download (Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI). The files are delivered by email after payment, so nothing is shipped: you print locally, choosing the paper, size, and frame yourself. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Abstract compositions work through rhythm, colour, and form, which makes them especially effective in modern interiors and in spaces that need a strong visual accent without a literal narrative. Before printing, compare the proportions of the file with your frame so that nothing important is cropped. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing. Matte and fine-art papers reduce glare in bright rooms, while glossy papers give stronger contrast and deeper blacks. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour.

French, 1885–1941

If you like the visual language of Robert Delaunay, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.