conceptionisten

Conceptionisten refers to a small, informal group of artists who emerged in Paris in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The term, meaning "conceivers" or "those who conceive," was coined by the artists themselves to describe their shared artistic philosophy. They were not a formal movement with a manifesto, but rather a loose association united by a desire to move beyond Surrealism's focus on the subconscious and explore a more ordered, intellectual approach to art.

Key figures associated with Conceptionisten included Robert Delaunay, Sonia Delaunay, and a few other artists interested in the interplay of color, form, and geometric abstraction. Their work often involved systematic exploration of color relationships and the creation of harmonious compositions. They were interested in the scientific aspects of perception and how the human eye processes visual information. This led to explorations in abstract art that emphasized structure and intellectual rigor rather than purely emotional expression. While their output was limited and their period of activity relatively short, Conceptionisten represented a nuanced development in abstract art, bridging the gap between earlier avant-garde movements and later geometric abstraction. Their emphasis on a deliberate and conceptual approach to creation influenced subsequent generations of artists interested in the formal elements of painting and design.