Synchromy
Stanton Macdonald-Wright
American, 1890–1973
1917
An oil on canvas in which Stanton Macdonald‑Wright arranges interlocking, jewel‑like planes of color to ‘orchestrate’ visual rhythm and harmony—aiming to make color function like music rather than depict a scene.
You first notice a kaleidoscope of facets—brilliant reds, blues, oranges and violets—that seem to pulse and rotate, creating luminous movement and a musical cadence across the flat surface.
As a key work of Synchromism, it helped stake an American claim in early abstraction by arguing that color alone could be a structural, musical force, joining and extending European avant‑garde experiments with pure form and hue.
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
31 x 24" (78.8 x 61 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
Given anonymously
Accession
346.1949
Palette
Art Terms
Exhibitions
