Geometric Composition 1930

Georges Valmier made this "Geometric Composition" with oil paint. The way he divides the circles into different colours, well, it's kind of like artmaking itself—a process of breaking things down and putting them back together, seeing what happens. Look closely, and you’ll see how the colours are laid down, flat and opaque, one next to the other. There is a lovely matt quality to the surface and the edges of the shapes are softly blurred. Take that pale yellow triangle for example, like a slice of sun, but it also gives depth, playing against the cool blues and greens. There is something very playful, almost musical about the way that these shapes and colours are arranged. It reminds me of the work of Sonia Delaunay, who like Valmier, was interested in the relationship between colour and form, and how these elements could be used to create a sense of movement and rhythm. Ultimately it's a reminder that art doesn't have to be so serious, it can be a space for experimentation, ambiguity, and endless possibilities.