Orphism

American  

[awr-fiz-uhm] / ˈɔr fɪz əm /

noun

1. the religious or philosophical system of the Orphic school.

2. Also called orphic cubism.  (often lowercase) a short-lived but influential artistic movement of the early 20th century arising from analytic cubism and the work of Robert Delaunay and having as conspicuous characteristics the use of bold color, the dynamic, prismatic juxtaposition and overlapping of nonobjective geometric forms and planes, and a lightness and lyricism dissociated from its cubist origins.

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Orphism British  

/ ˈɔːfɪzəm /

noun

1. a mystery religion of ancient Greece, widespread from the 6th century _bc onwards, combining pre-Hellenic beliefs, the Thracian cult of (Dionysius) Zagreus, etc

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Other Word Forms

• Orphist noun
• Orphistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of Orphism

Orphism ( def. 2 ) < French orphisme, equivalent to Orph ( ée ) Orpheus + -isme -ism; term introduced by G. Apollinaire c1913

Example Sentences

She’s not very well known but she’s the cofounder of Orphism, the art movement derived from Cubism.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2020

Sonia Delaunay, who with her husband, Robert Delaunay, developed this colorful, symphonic sort of abstraction called Orphism, has an interesting history.

From New York Times • Sep. 19, 2019

She and her husband, Robert, founded the Orphism art movement, which incorporated strong colors and geometric shapes in unique juxtaposition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2018

Futurism, Orphism, Expressionism, Synchronism, Abstract Dadaism, Rayonism, Machinism, Suprematism, Constructivism, Purism, Concretionism�by the 19205 there were so many isms that the artists themselves got mixed up.

From Time Magazine Archive

But Orphism, though liable to degradation, purified and elevated the old Bacchic rites.

From The Legacy of Greece Essays By: Gilbert Murray, W. R. Inge, J. Burnet, Sir T. L. Heath, D'arcy W. Thompson, Charles Singer, R. W. Livingston, A. Toynbee, A. E. Zimmern, Percy Gardner, Sir Reginald Blomfield by Livingstone, R.W.