Robert Delaunay, 1885 – 1941

The 100 Most Famous Paintings by Robert Delaunay

The painting that made Robert Delaunay famous is Byen Paris (1912); it hangs in the Centre Pompidou, Paris. Eiffeltårnet (1914) and The Eiffel Tower (1910) follow it in the hearts of collectors and museum visitors. Of the 181 works by Robert Delaunay in our catalogue, these 100 are the most admired, each presented with its date, its museum and what sets it apart.

Rangordnet efter vores popularitetsscore, som kombinerer søgninger, besøg og ordrer for hvert værk. Opdateret oktober 2026. Every masterpiece on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, at the size you choose.

Portræt af Robert Delaunay
Robert Delaunay · 1885 – 1941
Født · død
1885 – 1941, Paris
Bevægelse
Orphism
Værker i vores katalog
181
Mest kendte
Byen Paris (1912)
Flest værker hos
Centre Pompidou

Robert Delaunay: the ten masterpieces

Byen Paris (1912) af Robert Delaunay
1

Byen Paris

1912 · Olie på lærred · Centre Pompidou, Paris

En Vision af Modernitet: Robert Delaunays "Byen Paris" Robert Delaunay’s mesterværk fra 1912, “Byen Paris,” er mere end blot et maleri; det er en levende puls af tidens ånd, en fejring af moderniteten og en revolutionerende udforskning af farve, form og bevægelse. I en periode præget af hurtige teknologiske fremskridt og kunstnerisk eksperimenteren, fanger Delaunay essensen af et Paris i konstant forandring, et Paris der stræber mod fremtiden med en…

Eiffeltårnet (1914) af Robert Delaunay
2

Eiffeltårnet

1914 · Olie på lærred · Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York City

Et modernistisk mesterværk Robert Delaunays "Eiffeltårnet" fra 1914 er et levende vidnesbyrd om kunstnerens pionerrolle inden for orfisme og kubisme. Dette ikoniske værk indfanger essensen af parisisk modernitet gennem et dynamisk samspil mellem farve, form og perspektiv. Eiffeltårnet, en af verdens mest genkendelige konstruktioner, fungerer som det centrale fokuspunkt, fremstillet i en fragmenteret og mangefacetteret stil, der udfordrer den traditionelle repræsentation. En fængslende komposition Kompositionen er en symfoni af geometriske…

The Eiffel Tower (1910) af Robert Delaunay
3

The Eiffel Tower

1910 · Oil On Canvas · Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe

In the heart of early twentieth-century Paris, a radical transformation was unfolding, one that sought to dismantle the traditional boundaries of sight and perception. Robert Delaunay’s The Eiffel Tower stands as a breathtaking monument to this era of profound change. Rather than offering a mere photographic record of the iron lattice structure, Delaunay invites us into a world where architecture dissolves into rhythm. The painting is not simply a depiction…

Window (1912) af Robert Delaunay
4

Window

1912 · Oil · Tate Liverpool, Liverpool

In the early twentieth century, as the world stood on the precipice of profound transformation, Robert Delaunay captured a moment of pure, luminous transcendence in his 1912 masterpiece, "Window." This work is far more than a mere depiction of a windowpane; it is an invitation to witness the birth of Orphism, a movement that sought to liberate color from the constraints of representational form. To gaze upon this painting is…

The Three Graces (1912) af Robert Delaunay
5

The Three Graces

1912 · Acrylic On Canvas

Robert Delaunay's "The Three Graces," completed in 1912, stands as a cornerstone of Orphism and a testament to the transformative power of abstract color theory. Painted during a period of intense artistic experimentation—the Belle Époque giving way to the burgeoning avant-garde—this monumental canvas transcends mere representation, immersing viewers in a realm where form and pigment converge to evoke profound emotion.

La ville de Paris (1911) af Robert Delaunay
6

La ville de Paris

1911 · Acrylic · Toledo Kunstmuseum, Toledo

A Symphony of Color and Form: Exploring Robert Delaunay’s “La ville de Paris” The painting "La ville de Paris," created by Robert Delaunay in 1911, stands as a cornerstone of Orphism—a movement that irrevocably altered the trajectory of modern art. Measuring an impressive 1722 x 1195 cm, this monumental canvas isn’t merely a depiction of Parisian cityscape; it's an immersive experience designed to evoke emotion and capture the dynamism of…

Endless Rhythm (Rythme sans fin) (1934) af Robert Delaunay
7

Endless Rhythm (Rythme sans fin)

1934 · Acrylic On Canvas

Robert Delaunay's "Endless Rhythm" is more than just a painting; it’s an immersion in the vibrant, revolutionary spirit of early 20th-century abstraction. Executed in 1934, this artwork embodies the core tenets of Orphism – a movement pioneered by Delaunay and his wife Sonia – that sought to liberate color from representational constraints and explore its inherent power as a visual language. The canvas pulsates with dynamic energy, achieved through a…

Political Drama (1914) af Robert Delaunay
8

Political Drama

1914 · Mixed Media · National Gallery of Art, Washington

To stand before Robert Delaunay’s Political Drama is not merely to observe a painting; it is to step into a vibrant, pulsating field of pure chromatic energy. Created in the charged atmosphere of 1914, this work captures a moment suspended between figuration and abstraction—a visual echo of the tumultuous era from which it emerged. The composition immediately draws the eye into its heart, where two figures seem caught in an…

Road in Laon (1912) af Robert Delaunay
9

Road in Laon

1912 · Oil On Canvas

Robert Delaunay's 1912 painting, ‘Road in Laon,’ isn’t merely a depiction of a street scene; it’s a vibrant manifesto of the Orphism movement – a radical departure from representational art that sought to capture pure emotion through color and geometric form. This oil on canvas, measuring 81 x 100 cm, offers a captivating glimpse into the burgeoning artistic landscape of early 20th-century Europe, showcasing Delaunay’s pioneering approach to abstraction and…

Eiffel Tower af Robert Delaunay
10

Eiffel Tower

Oil On Canvas · Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.

In the heart of Paris, amidst the rhythmic pulse of a modernizing world, Robert Delaunay captured more than just a landmark; he captured the very vibration of existence. His Eiffel Tower stands as a breathtaking testament to the dawn of abstraction, where the rigid iron lattice of Gustave Eiffel’s masterpiece dissolves into a kaleidoscopic dance of light and geometry. To gaze upon this work is to witness the birth of…

More Robert Delaunay masterpieces, 11 to 100

Eiffel Tower (1909) af Robert Delaunay
#11

Eiffel Tower

1909 · Philadelphia Museum of Art

Composition and Visual Structure The painting presents a view of the Eiffel Tower through a dense arrangement of foliage. Large, overlapping leaves and tree trunks frame the central…

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Eiffel Tower (1911) af Robert Delaunay
#12

Eiffel Tower

1911 · Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

The painting titled "Eiffel Tower" by Robert Delaunay was created in 1911. This work presents an abstract representation of the Eiffel Tower, focusing on the structural essence of…

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Rhythm (1912) af Robert Delaunay
#14

Rhythm

1912

In the early twentieth century, as the world accelerated into the modern age, Robert Delaunay captured its frantic, beautiful pulse in his 1912 masterpiece, Rhythm. This striking duo…

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Premier Disque af Robert Delaunay
#18

Premier Disque

Robert Delaunay’s “Premier Disque” embodies the core principles of Orphism – a revolutionary movement that sought to liberate painting from representational constraints and prioritize color as its primary…

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Portrait of Henri Rousseau (1914) af Robert Delaunay
#19

Portrait of Henri Rousseau

1914 · Centre Pompidou

The Portrait of Henri Rousseau is a painting by the artist Robert Delaunay. Created in 1914, the work captures the likeness of the subject, who was also known…

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Window, Eiffel Tower af Robert Delaunay
#20

Window, Eiffel Tower

Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen

Robert Delaunay's “Window, Eiffel Tower” (1910) is more than just a depiction of Paris’ iconic landmark; it’s a vibrant embodiment of the Orphism movement – a radical artistic…

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Nude woman reading (1915) af Robert Delaunay
#21

Nude woman reading

1915 · National Gallery of Victoria

A Symphony of Color and Curve: Exploring Robert Delaunay’s Nude Woman Reading The painting “Nude Woman Reading,” executed by Robert Delaunay in 1915, stands as a cornerstone of…

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Rythm (1934) af Robert Delaunay
#22

Rythm

1934

In the vibrant landscape of early twentieth-century abstraction, few works capture the pulse of modernity as evocatively as Robert Delaunay’s "Rythm." Created in 1934, this masterpiece serves as…

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The Red Tower (1911) af Robert Delaunay
#24

The Red Tower

1911 · Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Robert Delaunay’s “The Red Tower,” painted in 1911, is more than a depiction of the iconic Eiffel Tower; it's a vibrant explosion of color and dynamic energy that…

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The jug (1916) af Robert Delaunay
#25

The jug

1916 · Centre Pompidou

The oil painting titled The jug, dated 1916, presents a complex arrangement of geometric shapes and color. The composition is built upon a rhythmic interplay of overlapping circular…

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Still Life with Parrot (1907) af Robert Delaunay
#46

Still Life with Parrot

1907 · Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

Still Life with Parrot is a work by Robert Delaunay. Created in the first half of 1907, this painting belongs to the still life genre. It captures a…

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Portrait of Henri Carlier (1906) af Robert Delaunay
#47

Portrait of Henri Carlier

1906 · Centre Pompidou

In this 1906 oil on canvas, we encounter the Portrait of Henri Carlier, a work by Robert Delaunay. The painting focuses on the subject, Henri Carlier, presented in…

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Portuguese Still Life (1915) af Robert Delaunay
#48

Portuguese Still Life

1915 · Musée Fabre

The scene unfolds through Portuguese Still Life, a work that breathes with the energy of 1915. Known also by its French title, Nature morte portugaise, this painting captures…

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Football (1916) af Robert Delaunay
#49

Football

1916 · Centre Pompidou

The energy of a stadium or the rush of a match finds a strange, rhythmic life in Football. Created in 1916, this work by Robert Delaunay captures a…

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Still Life in Blue (1907) af Robert Delaunay
#51

Still Life in Blue

1907 · Centre Pompidou

We are looking at Still Life in Blue, a work by Robert Delaunay. This piece belongs to the still life genre, focusing on an arrangement of vessels and…

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Stage Design for Cleopatra (1918) af Robert Delaunay
#52

Stage Design for Cleopatra

1918 · Metropolitan Museum of Art

The stage design for Cleopatra by Robert Delaunay emerges from a moment of theatrical creation, a vision crafted for Sergei Diaghilev. This work, dating to 1918, captures a…

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Self-portrait (1909) af Robert Delaunay
#54

Self-portrait

1909 · Centre Pompidou

by Robert Delaunay, executed in 1909, presents the artist as the central subject. This oil on canvas work captures the painter in a moment of intense introspection, utilizing…

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Color Explosion af Robert Delaunay
#56

Color Explosion

Statens Museum for Kunst

Robert Delaunay's "Color Explosion" stands as a vibrant testament to the revolutionary spirit of early 20th-century abstraction. Painted around 1913, during his pivotal engagement with Orphism alongside his…

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Saint-Séverin No. 4 (1909) af Robert Delaunay
#57

Saint-Séverin No. 4

1909 · Philadelphia Museum of Art

Robert Delaunay produced Saint-Séverin No. 4 in 1909. This work belongs to a series of seven paintings the artist executed to explore the ambulatory of the Saint-Séverin church.…

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Poring (1915) af Robert Delaunay
#83

Poring

1915

Robert Delaunay’s “Poring,” painted in 1915, is far more than a depiction of fruit; it’s a pivotal moment in the birth of abstract art. This vibrant canvas explodes…

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Robert Delaunay's paintings by period

The subjects Robert Delaunay painted most

The four subjects that return most often among these masterpieces, with the finest example of each.

Where to see Robert Delaunay's paintings

De 8 museer, der rummer flest af malerierne på denne side.

Museum By Værker af Robert Delaunay Malerier fra denne liste
Centre Pompidou, ParisCentre Pompidou Paris 24 Byen Paris, Portrait of Henri Rousseau, The jug
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New YorkSolomon R. Guggenheim Museum New York 9 Eiffel Tower, Windows Open Simultaneously 1st Part, 3rd Motif, The Red Tower
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, MadridThyssen-Bornemisza Museum Madrid 4 Woman with a Parasol, Portrait of Dr. Piraz, Still Life with Parrot
Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, ParisMusée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris Paris 8 Landscape with Cows, The Cardiff Team
Philadelphia Museum of Art, PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Museum of Art Philadelphia 3 Eiffel Tower, Saint-Séverin No. 4
Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe, KarlsruheStaatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe Karlsruhe 2 The Eiffel Tower, Political Drama
Museum Folkwang, EssenMuseum Folkwang Essen 2 Formes circulaires, soleil (Circular Forms, Sun), The Eiffel Tower
MoMA - Museum of Modern Art, New York CityMoMA - Museum of Modern Art New York City 5 Simultaneous Contrasts Sun and Moon

Robert Delaunay, decade by decade: the defining painting of each

  1. 1900s
    Eiffel Tower (1909) af Robert Delaunay
    #11 of 100

    Eiffel Tower

    Alder 15 – 24 · Philadelphia Museum of Art

    Composition and Visual Structure The painting presents a view of the Eiffel Tower through a dense arrangement of foliage. Large, overlapping leaves and tree trunks frame the central…

  2. 1910s
    Byen Paris (1912) af Robert Delaunay
    No. 1 of 100

    Byen Paris

    Alder 25 – 34 · Centre Pompidou

    En Vision af Modernitet: Robert Delaunays "Byen Paris" Robert Delaunay’s mesterværk fra 1912, “Byen Paris,” er mere end blot et maleri; det er en levende puls af tidens…

  3. 1920s
    Study for the Cardiff Team (1922) af Robert Delaunay
    No. 28 of 100

    Study for the Cardiff Team

    Alder 35 – 44 · Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art

    Robert Delaunay’s “Study for the Cardiff Team,” completed in 1922, stands as a cornerstone of Orphism and a testament to his groundbreaking approach to painting. More than just…

  4. 1930s
    Endless Rhythm (Rythme sans fin) (1934) af Robert Delaunay
    No. 7 of 100

    Endless Rhythm (Rythme sans fin)

    Alder 45 – 54

    Robert Delaunay's "Endless Rhythm" is more than just a painting; it’s an immersion in the vibrant, revolutionary spirit of early 20th-century abstraction. Executed in 1934, this artwork embodies…

Robert Delaunay's masterpieces: questions and answers

Which painting is Robert Delaunay best known for?Show the answer

Byen Paris (1912), Centre Pompidou, Paris. Next come Eiffeltårnet (1914) and The Eiffel Tower (1910).

How old was Robert Delaunay when painting Byen Paris?Show the answer

27 years old: Byen Paris dates from 1912 and Robert Delaunay was born in 1885.

What are Robert Delaunay's ten greatest paintings?Show the answer

Byen Paris, Eiffeltårnet, The Eiffel Tower, Window, The Three Graces, La ville de Paris, Endless Rhythm (Rythme sans fin), Political Drama, Road in Laon og Eiffel Tower. The ranking above gives the year and the museum of each.

How many works did Robert Delaunay paint?Show the answer

Our catalogue lists 181 works by Robert Delaunay, dated from 1903 to 1934.

In which museums can I see Robert Delaunay's masterpieces?Show the answer

Most of them are in Centre Pompidou (Paris), Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York) og Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (Madrid). The table above lists the museums one by one.

When did Robert Delaunay paint the masterpieces?Show the answer

In 1910s: 48 of the 100 works on this page date from then, among them Byen Paris.

What are the first and last famous paintings of Robert Delaunay?Show the answer

The earliest on this page is The Banks of the Yèvre (1903), the latest Endless Rhythm (Rythme sans fin) (1934).

What were Robert Delaunay's favourite subjects?Show the answer

Geometric shapes (19), Color theory (4) og Urban landscape (3), among the 100 works on this page.

Which technique did Robert Delaunay favour?Show the answer

Oil On Canvas: 18 of the 100 works on this page.

What art movement is Robert Delaunay part of?Show the answer

Orphism, as the paintings on this page show.

Which masterpieces by Robert Delaunay hang at the Centre Pompidou?Show the answer

Byen Paris, Portrait of Henri Rousseau og The jug are among the 13 works on this page held by the Centre Pompidou, Paris.

Can I own a reproduction of a Robert Delaunay masterpiece?Show the answer

Yes. Every painting on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, in the size you choose, from the painting's own page.

The life of Robert Delaunay

En pioner inden for abstrakt farve: Robert Delaunays liv og kunst

Robert Delaunay, født i Paris i 1885, trådte frem som en central skikkelse i de radikale kunstneriske omvæltninger i det tidlige tyvende århundrede. Selvom han i begyndelsen blev tiltrukket af mere traditionelle malerformer, førte hans rejse ham mod en udforskning af farve og lys, som i sidste ende skulle definere hans eftermæle og bidrage væsentligt til den abstrakte kunsts fødende øjeblikke. Delaunay var ikke blot interesseret i at *repræsentere* verden; han søgte at indfange dens selve essens gennem et levende sprog af geometriske former og lysende nuancer, da han med sin kone, Sonia Delaunay, og andre visionære ligesindede grundlagde Orfismen. Hans tidlige liv var præget af en vis ustabilitet – hans forældre blev skilt, da han var ung, og han blev opdraget af slægtninge – men dette fostrede måske netop den uafhængige ånd, der tjente ham så godt i udfordringen af kunstneriske konventioner. Han begyndte oprindeligt med dekorativ kunst, men blev hurtigt draget mod maleriet og udstillede på Salon des Indépendants allerede i 1904, hvilket vidnede om et spirende talent og en stor ambition.

Fra divisionisme til Orfismens daggry

Delaunays kunstneriske udvikling var kendetegnet ved konstant eksperimenteren. Han arbejdede indledningsvist med neo-impressionismen, eller divisionismen, hvor han absorberede principperne om at påføre små, adskilte farveprikker for at skabe en glimtende effekt. Men han bevægede sig snart ud over blot at efterligne optiske fænomener; han begyndte at undersøge selve farvens ekspressive potentiale. Et afgørende venskab med Jean Metzinger viste sig formativt i denne periode, da de udforskede mulighederne i fragmenterede former og mosaikagtige kompositioner. Disse tidlige samarbejder lagde grundstenen til deres senere engagement i kubismen, selvom Delaunay i sidste ende beværede sig væk fra dens mere analytiske tilgang. Han var ikke interesseret i at dissekere objekter i geometriske komponenter; tværtimod søgte han at syntetisere dem i dynamiske arrangementer af farve og lys. Dette skifte kulminerede i udviklingen af Orfismen – et begreb skabt af poeten Guillaume Apollinaire – som havde til formål at skabe en rent abstrakt kunst, der fremkaldte emotionelle responser gennem sin kromatiske intensitet. Simultaneous Contrasts: Sun and Moon eksemplificerer denne tilgang og fremviser Delaunays mesterlige manipulation af farve for at formidle en følelse af energi og bevægelse.

Kraften i ‘Simultanéité’ og kunstnerisk indflydelse

Centralt i Delaunays kunstneriske filosofi stod konceptet om ”simultanéité” – idéen om, at farver interagerer med hinanden og skaber nye sensationer og perceptioner. Han troede på, at farve ikke blot var et beskrivende element, men en aktiv kraft, der er i stand til at forme vores oplevelse af virkeligheden. Denne overbevisning gennemsyrede hans maleriserier af Eiffeltårnet, hvor han dekonstruerede den ikoniske struktur til et netværld af krydsende planer og vibrerende nuancer. Dette var ikke afbildninger *af* tårnet, men snarere undersøgelser af, hvordan lys og farve transformerede dets fremtoning. Delaunays teorier resonerede dybt hos andre kunstnere i hans samtid og påvirkede skikkelser som Paul Klee, Franz Marc, August Macke og endda de russiske avantgarde-bevægelser. Hans vægtning af abstraktion og farvens ekspressive kraft var med til at bane vejen for en ny generation af kunstnere, der forkastede repræsentative konventioner til fordel for rent visuelle former. Han skabte ikke blot malerier; han udviklede et teoretisk rammeværk for forståelsen af forholdet mellem farve, lys og perception.

De senere år og et vedvarende eftermæle

Første Verdenskrigs udbrud tvang Delaunay og hans kone til at søge tilflugt i Spanien og Portugal, hvor de fortsatte med at arbejde og udstille. Efter hjemkomsten til Paris i 1920'erne udforskede han en række motiver, herunder portrætter og figurative scener, men forblev altid tro mod sine kerneprincipper om farve og abstraktion. I sine senere år vendte Delaunay tilbage til tidligere temaer og skabte stadig mere komplekse og dynamiske kompositioner. Han påtog sig også ambitiøse projekter, såsom designet af storskala farvede relieffer til Verdensudstillingen i Paris i 1937, hvilket demonstrerede hans evne til at oversætte sin kunstneriske vision til arkitektoniske kontekster. Robert Delaunays tidlige død i 1941 markerede et tab for kunstverdenen, men hans indflydelse mærkes stadig i dag. Hans pionerarbejde lagde fundamentet for mange efterfølgende udviklinger inden for abstrakt kunst, og hans udforskning af farven forbliver en kilde til inspiration for kunstnere på tværs af discipliner. Hans eftermæle er ikke blot et spørgsmål om æstetisk innovation, men også om intellektuel undersøgelse – et vidnesbyrd om kunstens kraft til at transformere vores forståelse af verden omkring os.

Bemærkelsesværdige værker

  • Eiffeltårnet (1909-1911)
  • Simultaneous Contrasts: Sun and Moon (1913)
  • Windows Open Simultaneously, 1st Part, 3rd Motif (1912)
  • Vej i Laon (1910)
  • Rhythms (1934)

Alle 181 værker af Robert Delaunay →