| Synchromism - The Concept | | | | sculptural designs can form the basis of |
| Synchromism, often wrongly spelt as | | | | two-dimensional painted representations. Such |
| Synchronism, was an American art movement | | | | mutation is achievable through the interplay of |
| founded in the year 1912-13. Co-founded by | | | | various color tones, where rhythmic color |
| Abstractionists Morgan Russell (1886-1953) and | | | | patterns are used to compose an aesthetic |
| Stanton MacDonald-Wright, this purely abstract | | | | abstract imagery. His 1913-14 oil work 'Cosmic |
| style was the first to bring America on the | | | | Synchromy' is a magnificent 41.28 X 33.34 cm |
| international stage of Fine Arts. It is easy to draw | | | | piece, executed in red, green, blue, yellow, and |
| a parallel between Synchromism and its | | | | purple. This work is an embodiment of the various |
| Contemporary Art form Orphism, which was | | | | forms of the cosmic energies, as they interact |
| essentially a trend or specialization in the Cubist | | | | and overlap with each other in the atmosphere. |
| Art that placed a premium on the understanding | | | | Another significant painting by Russell was |
| and the use of colors. Orphism was considered | | | | 'Synchromy in Green,' dated 1913, which was |
| the crucial piece leading to the evolution of | | | | exhibited at 'Salon Des Independants' as the first |
| Abstract Art from Cubism. The body of works in | | | | major work of its genre. |
| Orphism was related to the Greek God Orpheus, | | | | Virginia-born Stanton MacDonald-Wright |
| who represented music, fine arts, and the musical | | | | (1890-1973) propounded the idea that strategically |
| instrument lyre. Synchromism never restricted | | | | placed colors and patterns can be used to |
| itself to a particular subject or a group of | | | | enhance human sensitivity and evoke various |
| subjects. Nevertheless, in techniques and forms it | | | | emotions. His magnum opus, 'Airplane Synchromy |
| remained similar to Orphism. | | | | in Yellow-Orange' (1920) was an oil-on-canvas |
| The Details | | | | painting, featuring a complex design in primary |
| The underlying philosophy of Synchromism is to | | | | colors (red, blue, and yellow). Some of the other |
| identify and recreate the colors symmetry, which | | | | leading artists associated with Synchronism were |
| is considered a similar phenomenon as the | | | | Andrew Dasburg (1887-1979), Diego Rivera |
| harmonization of musical symphonies. The | | | | (1886-1957), Patrick Henry Bruce (1881-1936), and |
| co-founders argued that juxtaposed or lyrically | | | | Thomas Hart Benton (1782-1858). |
| arranged, colors are capable of conveying the | | | | Conclusion |
| message just as the finely orchestrated musical | | | | Though often confused with Orphism, |
| notes. Therefore, the 'early' paintings in | | | | Synchromism discovered its own identity with |
| Synchromism tend to reduce the use of blended | | | | time. In their joint statement at the Neue |
| shades, flowing tones, and hues. However, as the | | | | Kunstsalon in Munich (June 1913), Russell and |
| trend moved towards complexity in the later | | | | Wright termed Synchromism as, "....the only |
| stages, such elements began forming a part of | | | | possible version of reality capable of expressing |
| Synchromism. | | | | the totality of different qualities applicable |
| The Artists and the Artworks | | | | exclusively to painting. |
| Morgan Russell (1886-1953) believed that the base | | | | |