Composition 18 — Fine Art

Composition 18 sets bold colour patches against a clear field. The flat planes of red, yellow and blue sit side by side rather than blending. Sonia Delaunay built the picture from repeating arcs and sharp angles that push the eye across the sheet.

The white frame finish gives the image a clean edge on the wall. That plain border keeps the busy colour patches contained and stops the tones from spilling into the room. The fine art print uses a matte paper so the bright reds stay flat and do not shine under a lamp.

On a kitchen wall near the breakfast table the reds and yellows read first thing in the morning. From the doorway the broad colour blocks hold their shape. Step closer and the thin outlines between the patches become clear.