The vibrationism of Rafael Barradas: Genealogy of a concept

Abstract

Vibrationism was an art movement developed by the painter Rafael Barradas (1890-1929) between 1917 and 1920, and this period remains one of the most recognized and recognizable of his artistic legacy. The aim of this paper is to look further into the concept of vibrationism in an attempt to reveal which elements of Barradas' artistic vision he sought to highlight by choosing this particular word. The author begins by addressing the frequent use of the concept of vibration in European avant-garde circles and then focuses on its emergence in Barradas' works from 1917 onwards. Finally, the meaning given to vibrationism in a text published by Torres- García is analyzed and his artistic interpretation of the style in his own paintings is discussed.