Rubénisme or Rubenism

Rubénisme is a French art movement of the late 17th century whose members voiced that colour was more important than design in the composition of a painting. This idea was in marked conflict with the Poussinists who insisted the opposite and who saw colour more as a decoration or finish.

The argument antedated not only the two movements, but also the two artists Rubens and Poussin whose later followers made up the two movements and named themselves accordingly after Rubens’ and Poussin’s deaths.

An artist painting in Rubénist style was e.g. Watteau.

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