Sonia Delaunay, born in 1885 in what was then the Russian Republic, was a French artist, textile, and fashion designer. She is most well known for co-founding the Orphism art movement, which relied heavily on strong colors and geometric shapes.
At a young age, Delaunay was adopted by her affluent aunt and uncle in St. Petersburg. Here she received a privileged upbringing and ended up visiting many galleries and art museums while traveling Europe widely. At age 16, her proficiency in drawing was noticed by a teacher at her school. This same teacher encouraged her to move to Germany to pursue an education in art, which she did by enrolling at the Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe.
In 1905, Delaunay moved to Paris to further her education. She married an art dealer by the name of Wilhelm Uhde. This was a convenient arrangement as it allowed Delaunay to continue to live in Paris, independent of her family while covering Uhde’s homosexuality.
It was also through her relationship with Uhde that Delaunay got her foot in the door of the art world. Her first exhibitions were at his galleries and she benefited greatly from his many connections. It was also through Uhde that Delaunay met her next husband, and true love, Robert Delaunay.
This marriage birthed not only children but also the art movement is known as Orphism, which is a variation of Cubism, focusing on bold, primary colors and geometric patterns.
It was when she made a quilt for her newly born son that she began experimenting with textiles. She refused to separate fine art and textiles, and this ideology would guide her work for the rest of her life.
She traveled extensively throughout her life and eventually opened a fashion shop to support her family and her husband’s art career. She passed away in 1979 and requested to be buried in a dress designed by Hubert de Givenchy.
1. Portrait of Philomene
‘Portrait of Philomene’ was created in 1907 by Sonia Delaunay in Fauvism style.
2. Sleeping Girl
The ‘sleeping girl’ was made in the year 1907 by Sonia Delaunay. It refers to the early period of Sonia Delaunay.
3. Simultaneous Dress
‘Simultaneous Dresses’ was created in 1925 by Sonia Delaunay in Orphism style.
4. the Ball
‘The Ball’ was created in 1913 by Sonia Delaunay in Orphism style.
5. Electric Prisms
‘Electric Prisms’ was created in 1914 by Sonia Delaunay in Orphism style.
6. Dubonnet
‘Dubonnet’ was created in 1914 by Sonia Delaunay in Orphism style.
7. Market at Minho
The Market at Minho is painted in the style of Simultanism, which is an offshoot of Cubism, invented by Sonia and her husband Robert Delaunayin the year 1915.
8. Portuguese Market
‘Portuguese Market’ was created in 1915 by Sonia Delaunay in Orphism style.
9. Flamenco Dancer
Flamenco dancer is one of artworks by Sonia Delaunay in the year 1916 in orphism style.
10. Flamenco Singer
Created in the year 1916 Flamenco singer was made by Sonia Delaunay. She was Initially inspired by quilt patterns.
11. Flamenco Singers
‘Flamenco Singers’ was created in 1916 by Sonia Delaunay in Orphism style.
12. Costume Design for Cleopatra
Costume Designs for the Ballet ‘Cleopatra’, performed at the Coliseum Theatre in London, 1918 portrayed by Sonia Delaunay in this artwork.
13. Fabric Pattern
‘Fabric Pattern’ was created in 1928 by Sonia Delaunay in Orphism style.
14. Composition 10
‘Composition 10’ was created in c.1930 by Sonia Delaunay in Orphism style.
15. Composition 12
‘Composition 12’ was created in c.1930 by Sonia Delaunay in Orphism style.