9.3 Synthetism

Synthetism emerged in the late 1880s as a Post-Impressionist movement, rejecting naturalism in favor of simplified forms and symbolic elements. Led by Paul Gauguin and Émile Bernard, Synthetists sought to express emotions and ideas through bold colors and flattened compositions.

The movement emphasized two-dimensional surfaces, non-naturalistic colors, and decorative patterns. Synthetist artists explored themes of spirituality, primitivism, and the exotic, influencing later movements like Fauvism and Expressionism. Their focus on subjective expression and symbolism helped pave the way for modern art.

Origins of Synthetism

• Synthetism emerged in the late 1880s as a Post-Impressionist art movement that sought to synthesize and simplify forms, colors, and compositions
• Developed as a reaction against the naturalistic and scientific approach of Impressionism, Synthetists aimed to express emotions and ideas through symbolic and decorative elements

Gauguin and Bernard

Top images from around the web for Gauguin and Bernard

• 

  Zelfportret met portret van Gauguin, Emile Bernard (1888) | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Les lavandières à Pont-Aven de P. Gauguin (Grand Palais, P… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Zelfportret met portret Emile Bernard, Paul Gauguin (1888)… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Zelfportret met portret van Gauguin, Emile Bernard (1888) | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Les lavandières à Pont-Aven de P. Gauguin (Grand Palais, P… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Gauguin and Bernard

• 

  Zelfportret met portret van Gauguin, Emile Bernard (1888) | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Les lavandières à Pont-Aven de P. Gauguin (Grand Palais, P… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Zelfportret met portret Emile Bernard, Paul Gauguin (1888)… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Zelfportret met portret van Gauguin, Emile Bernard (1888) | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Les lavandières à Pont-Aven de P. Gauguin (Grand Palais, P… | Flickr View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Paul Gauguin and Émile Bernard are considered the pioneers and key figures of Synthetism
• Gauguin and Bernard collaborated and influenced each other's artistic development during their time in Pont-Aven, Brittany
• Their works featured flattened forms, bold outlines, and non-naturalistic colors, setting the foundation for the Synthetist style

Pont-Aven school

• The Pont-Aven school refers to the group of artists who gathered in the small village of Pont-Aven, Brittany, France, in the late 1880s
• Artists such as Gauguin, Bernard, Paul Sérusier, and Maurice Denis worked and exchanged ideas in Pont-Aven
• The Pont-Aven school became a hub for the development and spread of Synthetist ideas and techniques

Reaction against Impressionism

• Synthetism emerged as a reaction against the Impressionist focus on capturing fleeting moments and light effects
• Synthetists sought to move beyond the purely visual and express deeper emotions, ideas, and spiritual themes
• They rejected the Impressionist emphasis on naturalism and instead embraced simplified forms, flat colors, and symbolic elements

Characteristics of Synthetist art

• Synthetist art is characterized by a departure from realistic representation and a focus on expressive and decorative qualities
• Artists sought to synthesize and simplify forms, colors, and compositions to create works that conveyed emotions and ideas

Simplified forms and flat colors

• Synthetists reduced forms to their essential shapes and outlines, creating a flattened and stylized appearance
• They used bold, flat areas of color, often non-naturalistic, to create a sense of harmony and decoration
• The simplification of forms and use of flat colors emphasized the two-dimensional surface of the painting

Symbolic and expressive elements

• Synthetist works often incorporated symbolic elements to convey deeper meanings and emotions
• Artists used color, form, and composition to create expressive and evocative images
• Symbolism allowed Synthetists to explore spiritual, psychological, and philosophical themes beyond the visible world

Decorative and rhythmic compositions

• Synthetist compositions often featured decorative patterns, curves, and rhythmic arrangements of forms
• Artists sought to create a sense of harmony and unity through the interplay of shapes, colors, and lines
• The decorative quality of Synthetist art was influenced by Japanese woodblock prints and medieval stained glass

Rejection of naturalism and perspective

• Synthetists rejected the naturalistic representation of space and perspective in favor of a flattened and compressed pictorial space
• They deliberately distorted or simplified forms to emphasize the two-dimensional surface of the painting
• The rejection of naturalism allowed Synthetists to prioritize emotional expression and symbolic meaning over realistic depiction

Synthetist techniques and materials

• Synthetists employed various techniques and materials to achieve their distinctive style and visual effects
• These techniques emphasized the two-dimensional surface, bold outlines, and bright, non-naturalistic colors

Cloisonnism and bold outlines

• Cloisonnism, a technique pioneered by Émile Bernard, involved using bold, dark outlines to separate areas of flat color
• The term "cloisonnism" derives from the French word "cloison," meaning partition or compartment, referring to the way the outlines divided the composition
• The use of bold outlines created a stained-glass-like effect and emphasized the two-dimensional nature of the painting

Bright, non-naturalistic colors

• Synthetists used bright, intense colors that often deviated from naturalistic representation
• The choice of colors was based on their expressive and symbolic qualities rather than their resemblance to reality
• Non-naturalistic colors helped to create a sense of emotion, atmosphere, and decorative harmony in Synthetist works

Emphasis on two-dimensional surface

• Synthetists emphasized the flatness and two-dimensionality of the painting surface
• They rejected the illusion of depth and instead embraced the inherent qualities of the picture plane
• By flattening forms, using bold outlines, and applying flat areas of color, Synthetists drew attention to the surface of the painting itself

Use of wood block printing

• Some Synthetist artists, particularly Gauguin, experimented with wood block printing techniques
• Wood block prints allowed for the creation of bold, simplified forms and flat areas of color
• The graphic quality of wood block prints influenced the Synthetist aesthetic and contributed to the emphasis on two-dimensional design

Themes in Synthetist works

• Synthetist artists explored a range of themes in their works, often drawing inspiration from spirituality, symbolism, and the primitive and exotic
• These themes allowed Synthetists to express deeper emotions, ideas, and inner visions beyond the visible world

Spirituality and symbolism

• Synthetists often incorporated spiritual and symbolic elements in their works to convey deeper meanings and emotions
• Religious and mythological themes were explored, as artists sought to express the intangible and transcendent aspects of human experience
• Symbolism allowed Synthetists to create works that were open to interpretation and evoked a sense of mystery and introspection

Primitive and exotic subjects

• Synthetists were drawn to primitive and exotic subjects, often depicting scenes from non-Western cultures and ancient civilizations
• Gauguin, in particular, was fascinated by the art and culture of Tahiti and the South Pacific, which heavily influenced his Synthetist works
• The primitive and exotic served as a means to escape the confines of modern Western society and explore alternative ways of seeing and experiencing the world

Dreams, visions and imagination

• Synthetists often drew inspiration from their own dreams, visions, and imagination to create works that were highly personal and expressive
• They sought to capture the inner world of the artist and give form to intangible thoughts, feelings, and fantasies
• The emphasis on dreams and imagination allowed Synthetists to break free from the constraints of realistic representation and explore the realm of the subconscious

Everyday life of peasants and laborers

• Some Synthetist artists, particularly those associated with the Pont-Aven school, depicted scenes from the everyday life of peasants and laborers
• These works often portrayed the simple, rustic existence of rural communities in Brittany and other regions of France
• By focusing on the lives of ordinary people, Synthetists sought to capture the essence of human experience and express a sense of empathy and connection with the subjects

Key Synthetist artists

• Synthetism was pioneered and developed by a group of influential artists who played a crucial role in shaping the movement's aesthetic and philosophy
• These artists, through their individual styles and contributions, helped establish Synthetism as a significant force in the development of modern art

Paul Gauguin

• Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) is considered one of the founding fathers of Synthetism and a key figure in the Post-Impressionist movement
• Gauguin's works, such as "Vision After the Sermon" (1888) and "Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?" (1897-1898), exemplify the Synthetist style with their simplified forms, flat colors, and symbolic elements
• Gauguin's experiences in Brittany and his later travels to Tahiti had a profound impact on his artistic development and the themes he explored in his Synthetist works

Émile Bernard

• Émile Bernard (1868-1941) was a French artist who, alongside Gauguin, played a crucial role in the development of Synthetism
• Bernard is credited with pioneering the technique of cloisonnism, which involved using bold, dark outlines to separate areas of flat color
• His works, such as "Breton Women in the Meadow" (1888), showcase the Synthetist emphasis on simplified forms, decorative elements, and symbolic meaning

Paul Sérusier

• Paul Sérusier (1864-1927) was a French painter and theorist who was closely associated with the Pont-Aven school and the development of Synthetism
• Sérusier's famous work "The Talisman" (1888), created under the guidance of Gauguin, is considered a key example of the Synthetist style, with its simplified landscape and pure, flat colors
• Sérusier played a significant role in spreading Synthetist ideas and influencing the next generation of artists, particularly the Nabis group

Maurice Denis

• Maurice Denis (1870-1943) was a French painter, decorative artist, and writer who was a prominent figure in the Synthetist and Nabis movements
• Denis's works, such as "April" (1892) and "Landscape with Green Trees" (1893), exemplify the Synthetist emphasis on flat colors, decorative patterns, and symbolic meaning
• Denis was also an important theorist and wrote extensively on the principles of Synthetism and the role of art in expressing emotions and ideas

Influence of Synthetism

• Synthetism had a significant impact on the development of modern art, influencing various movements and inspiring generations of artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
• The Synthetist emphasis on simplification, symbolism, and expressive use of color and form paved the way for new artistic approaches and styles

Impact on Nabis and Symbolist movements

• The Nabis, a group of French artists active in the 1890s, were directly influenced by the Synthetist style and philosophy
• Artists such as Pierre Bonnard, Édouard Vuillard, and Félix Vallotton adopted the Synthetist emphasis on flat colors, decorative patterns, and symbolic meaning in their works
• Synthetism also had a significant impact on the Symbolist movement, which sought to express ideas and emotions through symbolic and suggestive imagery

Inspiration for Fauvism and Expressionism

• The Synthetist use of bright, non-naturalistic colors and expressive forms inspired the development of Fauvism in the early 20th century
• Fauvist artists, such as Henri Matisse and André Derain, embraced the Synthetist emphasis on color and emotion, pushing it to new extremes
• Synthetism also influenced the development of Expressionism, particularly in the works of German artists such as Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Emil Nolde, who sought to convey inner feelings and experiences through distorted forms and intense colors

Role in development of modern art

• Synthetism played a crucial role in the transition from Impressionism to the various avant-garde movements of the early 20th century
• The Synthetist rejection of naturalism and emphasis on subjective expression, simplification, and symbolism helped pave the way for the development of abstract art
• Synthetist ideas and techniques influenced artists associated with movements such as Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism

Legacy in 20th century painting

• The legacy of Synthetism can be seen in the works of numerous 20th-century artists who continued to explore the expressive potential of color, form, and symbolism
• Artists such as Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Marc Chagall, among others, drew inspiration from the Synthetist emphasis on simplification, decoration, and emotional expression
• The Synthetist approach to color, composition, and symbolic meaning continued to resonate with artists throughout the 20th century, influencing the development of various styles and movements in modern and contemporary art