synthetisme

Synthetisme, or Syntheticism, is a painting style associated with the late 19th-century Pont-Aven circle in Brittany, France, and linked most closely to Paul Gauguin and his followers, including Émile Bernard and Louis Anquetin. The term describes a methodological shift from naturalistic observation toward the synthesis of form, color, and subject matter.

The core idea of synthetism is to build images from simplified shapes and bold, flat areas of color, often outlined in dark lines to separate color fields. This approach emphasizes unity and surface rather than depth or optical mixing. Symbolic meaning is central to the style, with imagery selected for its expressive or spiritual associations as much as for its descriptive accuracy.

Synthetist works are influenced by Cloisonnism, which uses clear color divisions, as well as by Japonisme and Symbolism. The movement seeks to convey mood, idea, and emotion by color and contour, rather than by detailed realism. The result is a decorative yet expressive language that treats painting as a vehicle for inner experience as well as exterior appearance.

Historically, synthetisme is regarded as a precursor to early modern movements. It helped shape attitudes toward color as an autonomous artistic element and contributed to the evolving dialogue between representation and symbolism that would influence later developments in Fauvism and German Expressionism.