# Unism (ユニスム)

> A Polish theory holding that a picture should contain neither contrast nor centre, existing instead as a single homogeneous organism. The hierarchy of figure and ground is erased, and the colour surface continues with equal weight to the very edge. The theoretical ancestor of the uniform grid and all-over composition.

- IndexStyle No.479 — https://indexstyle.org/styles/unism
- Kind: Style · Family: Geometric Abstraction · Era: 1923–1936
- Mood: Calm, Trust
- Color cues: #e9e6dd / #67635d / #171615 (cues taken from reference works, not a fixed palette)

## Defining characteristics

- Elimination of centre and contrast
- Colour surfaces continuing equally to the edge
- Erasure of the figure-ground hierarchy
- All-over fields built from minute differences

## Best used for

- Quiet textural backgrounds and wallpapers with no focal point by design
- Systematic pattern and grid programmes where evenness is the brand's voice

## Research method

This entry records a historical style; derive the treatment from its sources rather than a fixed recipe:

- A single weight of a neutral sans, evenly set—typography as texture, not accent
- An edge-to-edge field with no centre; rhythm from minute modular variation only
- Close-valued hues in matte, even surfaces—differences of a few steps at most

## What to avoid

Avoid introducing any focal accent; one emphasised element restores the hierarchy Unism exists to abolish.

## Application checklist

Before calling a piece an application of this style, check it against the defining characteristics:

- [ ] Elimination of centre and contrast
- [ ] Colour surfaces continuing equally to the edge
- [ ] Erasure of the figure-ground hierarchy
- [ ] All-over fields built from minute differences
- [ ] At least one reference work below has been studied directly
- [ ] The caution above ("What to avoid") has been addressed

## Related styles

- **Suprematism (シュプレマティスム)** — Leaves depiction behind, raising felt tension from a few geometric forms and empty space. → https://indexstyle.org/styles/suprematism
- **De Stijl (デ・ステイル)** — Restricts the vocabulary to vertical, horizontal and primary color, building universal order from balance. → https://indexstyle.org/styles/de-stijl

## Further study

- Strzemiński's theory of Unism
- Katarzyna Kobro's spatial sculpture
- The collection of the Muzeum Sztuki in Łódź

## Reference works

- Władysław Strzemiński《抽象コンポジション》1933 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domain — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:W%C5%82adys%C5%82aw%20Strzemi%C5%84ski%20-%20Kompozycja%20abstrakcyjna%20(1933).jpg
- Władysław Strzemiński 作品 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domain — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:W%C5%82adys%C5%82aw%20Strzemi%C5%84ski%2C%20The%20Sticky%20Spot%20of%20Crime.jpg
- Władysław Strzemiński《海の風景》1933 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domain — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:W%C5%82adys%C5%82aw%20Strzemi%C5%84ski%20-%20Pejza%C5%BC%20morski%20(1933).jpg

## Source of record

- Monoskop — Władysław Strzemiński — https://monoskop.org/W%C5%82adys%C5%82aw_Strzemi%C5%84ski

## Machine surfaces

- JSON: https://indexstyle.org/api/styles/unism
- Image-generation prompt (legally clean): https://indexstyle.org/styles/unism/prompt.txt
- MCP: https://indexstyle.org/mcp (tools: search_styles, get_style, compose_styles; prompts: image-prompt, apply-style)

## 日本語

画面に対比も中心も置かず、全体を一つの均質な有機体として成立させよと説いたポーランドの理論。図と地の階層を消し、色面が縁まで等価に連続する。均質なグリッドと全面構成の理論的な祖先にあたる。

特徴: 中心と対比の排除／縁まで等価に連続する色面／図と地の階層の消去／微差で構成される全面
注意: 表面的な記号へ還元せず、時代・地域・技術・制作主体の文脈を確認する。