Artwork

Disks

Disks, by Robert Delaunay, oil, 1933
Disks, by Robert Delaunay, oil, 1933

Disks is an oil painting by Robert Delaunay. It dates from 1933 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1933, *Disks* is an oil painting by French artist Robert Delaunay. The work consists of abstract, concentric forms rendered in vivid hues, exemplifying Delaunay’s ongoing exploration of color and motion. It is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is displayed among other early‑20th‑century avant‑garde pieces.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting employs Delaunay’s signature use of bright, juxtaposed colors to generate a sense of vibration and depth. The composition relies on overlapping circular motifs that dissolve the boundaries between figure and ground, reflecting the artist’s interest in simultaneity and the optical effects of moving forms.

History & Provenance

*Disks* entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings after being acquired in the mid‑20th century, following a period when Delaunay’s work gained renewed scholarly attention. The museum’s acquisition helped solidify the painting’s status as a representative example of Delaunay’s mature abstract phase.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Robert Delaunay

Artist

Robert Delaunay

Robert Delaunay was a French artist of the School of Paris movement; who, with his wife Sonia Delaunay and others, co-founded the Orphism art movement, noted for its use of strong colours and geometric shapes.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Museum of Modern Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.