Simultaneous Windows (2nd Motif, 1st Part) - Robert Delaunay

A seminal work of Orphism, this painting explores the interaction of light and colour through fragmented geometric planes.

Robert Delaunay created this work during his exploration of colour theory and light. The composition belongs to his series of window paintings, which examine the interaction between interior and exterior spaces. By breaking the visual field into geometric planes, Delaunay moves away from traditional representation. He focuses on the way light refracts through glass and interacts with the urban environment.

In this piece, the artist employs a technique he termed simultaneity. This approach relies on the juxtaposition of contrasting colours to create a sense of movement and depth without relying on conventional perspective. The vertical form at the centre suggests the silhouette of the Eiffel Tower, a recurring subject in his oeuvre. The surrounding blocks of colour suggest the fragmented view seen through a windowpane, where the city outside merges with the reflections on the glass.

Delaunay was influenced by the scientific theories of Michel Eugène Chevreul regarding the law of simultaneous contrast of colours. By placing complementary hues side by side, he achieves a rhythmic quality that directs the eye across the canvas. The application of paint is deliberate, with visible brushwork that maintains the materiality of the surface. This work represents a shift in early twentieth-century art, where the subject matter becomes secondary to the investigation of pure colour and light. The absence of a fixed horizon line or vanishing point allows the viewer to experience the painting as a series of shifting planes. It is a study of how the human eye perceives light in a modern, industrialised setting, capturing the fleeting nature of visual experience through a structured, geometric lens.