Woman with umbrella. The Parisian 1913

Editor: This is Robert Delaunay's "Woman with umbrella. The Parisian" from 1913, an oil painting. The colors are really striking! What stands out most to me is the way Delaunay seems to be playing with form and color – what do you make of this work? Curator: Well, if we look closely, the materiality of the paint is critical. Consider the labor involved in producing these pigments, and how the rising industrial revolution impacted pigment creation and affordability, which consequently allowed more artists to use such a diverse and bold palette. What do you think a "Parisian Woman" represented in 1913? Editor: A modern consumer, maybe? Someone enjoying the benefits of this industrialized world you mentioned? I hadn't thought of it that way. I suppose I was stuck on the abstract shapes themselves. Curator: Exactly. This is Orphism. It’s not just about abstraction; it’s about the materials' availability and what the woman consumes that create a particular moment in societal transformation. We need to consider where this woman is positioned in the changing landscape and what role she plays in consuming the objects capitalism is churning out. Notice how the composition emphasizes these things. The shapes become less about mimicking reality, and more about constructing a feeling connected to new products. Editor: So, the umbrella isn’t just an umbrella, it's also a signifier of modernity, of new materials and new forms of consumption available to this "Parisian Woman?" Curator: Precisely. Look at the canvas itself - machine made, readily available. Delaunay is confronting and utilizing these resources of production. Editor: This gives me so much to think about. I’ll never see abstract art quite the same way again. Curator: Likewise, seeing your enthusiasm inspires me. The beauty truly lies in how labor, consumption and materiality can reshape our interpretation.