Rhythm 

Robert Delaunay made this print, Rhythm, to explore a style of art called Orphism, which aimed to express pure feeling through colour and abstract form. Painted in France, this print reflects a society on the cusp of modernity. You can see how the circles of colour create a sense of movement and energy that speaks to a world increasingly shaped by technology and speed. As an art historian, I always ask: what is the public role of art, and what are the social conditions that shape artistic production? In this case, we might consider that Delaunay and other Orphist painters were interested in breaking down the traditional boundaries between different art forms such as painting and music. By exploring the meaning of art as something contingent on social and institutional context, we can learn more about how artists respond to a rapidly changing world.