the basic elements of art—the line, particle of color—like words could be treated autonomously, each possessing an abstract value independent of one another, if so chose the artist. the line, independent of its topographical role, possesses an calculable abstract value, in addition to the particles of color and the relation of both to the observer's emotion. the underlying theory behind neo-impressionsim, something divisionists like the metzinger would push to the extreme, would have a lasting effect on the works produced in the coming years by albert gleizes, robert delaunay and gino severini.