Sonia Delaunay
French, 1885-1979
Sonia Delaunay was a multi-disciplinary abstract artist and key figure in the Parisian avant-garde. Alongside her husband, Robert Delaunay, she pioneered the movement Simultanism. Her exploration of the interaction between colors has created a sense of depth and movement throughout her oeuvre.
She was born Sonia Illinitchna Stern to a Jewish Ukrainian family. At the age of seven she went to live with her comparatively wealthy uncle Henri Terk and his wife, Anna, in St Petersburg, Russia. The Terks offered her a privileged and cultured upbringing in St Petersburg.
About 1911, Delaunay recalled, I had the idea of making for my son, who had just been born, a blanket composed of bits of fabric like those I had seen in the houses of Russian peasants. When it was finished, the arrangement of the pieces of material seemed to me to evoke cubist conceptions and we then tried to apply the same process to other objects and paintings. I always changed everything around me… I made my first white walls so our paintings would look better. I designed my furniture; I have done everything. I have lived my art.
Delaunay’s creativity expanded beyond painting to include many other outlets such as Casa Sonia, an interiors and fashion boutique that she set up 1918. The entire set and costume design of Tristan Tzara’s 1923 play Le Cœur à Gaz; An illustration for the cover of Vogue in 1926; Costumes for the films Le Vertige directed by Marcel L’Herbier and Le p’tit Parigot, directed by René Le Somptier; Furniture for the set of the 1929 film Parce que je t’aime; And her textiles label Tissus Delaunay, which sold her designs worldwide.
Orphism is a term originating from 1912 when French poet and art critic Guillaume Apollinaire identified the new style of Cubist painting. Apollinaire was inspired by the work of František Kupka and the Delaunays, who, although channeling the Cubist vision, prioritized color in their work. Apollinaire felt this use of color brought movement, light and musical qualities to the artwork and therefore referenced the legendary poet and singer of ancient Greek mythology, Orpheus, when naming the movement.
Simultanism is the strand of Orphism practiced by the Delaunays. The name comes from the work of French scientist Michel Eugène Chevreul who identified the phenomenon of ‘simultaneous contrast’ in which colors look different depending on the colors around them. The Delaunays dispensed with form and aimed to created rhythm, motion and depth through overlapping patches of vibrant hues.
As well as a major retrospective at the Kunstmuseum Bielefeld in 1958, Delaunay was the first living female artist to have a retrospective exhibition at the Louvre in 1964. She has also had her work shown at Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris, Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Musée National d’Art Moderne and Tate Modern.| Average Sold Price |
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Cinema
By Sonia Delaunay
Located in Paris, FR
Lithograph, ca1970
Handsigned by the artist in pencil and annotated HC
55.50 cm. x 75.50 cm. | 21.85 in. x 29.72 in. (paper)
45.00 cm. x 58.00 cm. | 17.72 in. x 22.83 in. (image)
A ...
Category
1970s Abstract Sonia Delaunay
Materials
Lithograph
Damiers verts
By Sonia Delaunay
Located in Paris, FR
Lithograph, 1968
Handsigned by the artist in pencil and numbered 56/100
66.00 cm. x 50.00 cm. | 25.98 in. x 19.69 in. (paper)
42.00 cm. x 34.00 cm. | 16.54 in. x 13.39 in. (image)
A...
Category
1960s Abstract Sonia Delaunay
Materials
Lithograph
Jazz - Lithograph (Artcurial edition)
By Sonia Delaunay
Located in Paris, FR
Sonia DELAUNAY
Jazz
Lithograph after a painting
Printed signature in the plate
Numbered /600
On Arches vellum 40 x 30 cm (c. 15.7 x 11.8 in)
ArtCurial edition, 1994
Excellent cond...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Sonia Delaunay
Materials
Lithograph
Spain : Flamenco Dancer - Lithograph (Artcurial edition)
By Sonia Delaunay
Located in Paris, FR
Sonia DELAUNAY
Spain : Flamenco Dancer
Lithograph after a painting
Printed signature in the plate
Numbered /600
On Arches vellum 40 x 30 cm (c. 15.7 x 11.8 in)
ArtCurial edition, 1...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Sonia Delaunay
Materials
Lithograph
King of hearts
By Sonia Delaunay
Located in Paris, FR
Lithograph, 1964
Handsigned by the artist in pencil and numbered 67/75
65.00 cm. x 50.00 cm. 25.59 in. x 19.69 in. (paper)
53.00 cm. x 48.50 cm. 20.87 in. x 19.09 in. (image)
Arche...
Category
1960s Abstract Sonia Delaunay
Materials
Lithograph
Sonia
By Sonia Delaunay
Located in Paris, FR
Ceramic
Titled and signed in the mass under the base
polychrome enamel decoration
initialled with the initials "SD" on the bottom right
diameter : 24.70 cm
This plate in Moustiers e...
Category
1970s Abstract Sonia Delaunay
Materials
Ceramic
Woman with Art Deco Dress - Lithograph (Artcurial edition)
By Sonia Delaunay
Located in Paris, FR
Sonia DELAUNAY
Woman with Art Deco Dress
Lithograph after a painting
Printed signature in the plate
Numbered /600
On Arches vellum 40 x 30 cm (c. 1...
Category
Late 20th Century Art Deco Sonia Delaunay
Materials
Lithograph
Rythm and Dance - Lithograph (Artcurial edition)
By Sonia Delaunay
Located in Paris, FR
Sonia DELAUNAY
Rythm and Dance
Lithograph after a painting
Printed signature in the plate
Numbered /600
On vellum paper 40 x 30 cm (c. 15.7 x 11.8 in)
ArtCurial edition, 1994
Exce...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Sonia Delaunay
Materials
Lithograph
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Find a wide variety of authentic Sonia Delaunay art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue, orange, yellow and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Sonia Delaunay in lithograph, etching, paint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the abstract style. Not every interior allows for large Sonia Delaunay art, so small editions measuring 9 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of James Coignard, George Braque, and Lamar Briggs. Sonia Delaunay art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at £315 and tops out at £28,605, while the average work can sell for £2,252.