1. An early 20th-century art movement emphasizing pure abstraction, bright colors, and musical or poetic qualities in painting.
Usage: art history; also called Orphic Cubism
2. A mystical or religious movement in ancient Greece based on the teachings attributed to the legendary poet Orpheus.
Usage: classical antiquity; historical

Examples

• Orphism emerged in Paris around 1912 as artists sought to move beyond Cubism toward pure abstraction.
• Robert Delaunay and Sonia Delaunay were key figures in the development of Orphism.
• The movement emphasized the spiritual and musical qualities of color and form.
• Orphism influenced later abstract art movements throughout the 20th century.
• Ancient Orphism promised followers purification and salvation through ritual and initiation.
• Scholars debate the exact beliefs and practices of Orphism in classical Greece.