Cubism in 9 Minutes: Art Movement by Pablo Picasso Explained

Summary

Cubism, co-founded by Picasso and Braque, emerged in 1907 as a radical response to a world transformed by technology. It rejected traditional linear perspective and chiaroscuro, embracing abstract geometric shapes and multiple viewpoints. This movement, inspired by Cézanne and non-Western art, evolved through Analytical and Synthetic stages, influencing modernist literature, fashion, and music. Cubism's legacy endures, with works commanding millions and inspiring movements like Futurism and Dadaism.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Cubism was co-founded by Pablo Picasso and George Braque as a response to rapid technological and scientific advancements.
• 🖼️ The movement began in France in 1907 and was considered radical due to its departure from traditional Western European art styles.
• 👨‍🎨 Paul Cézanne's work, particularly his posthumous retrospective, was a significant influence on the development of Cubism.
• 🚀 'Les Demoiselles d’Avignon' is recognized as one of the first Cubist paintings and marked a significant shift in artistic perspective.
• 🔄 Cubism rejected linear perspective, chiaroscuro, and conventional beauty standards, embracing abstraction and geometric shapes.
• 🌍 The movement was influenced by a variety of cultural sources, including African and Native American art, Assyrian and Egyptian art, and Iberian sculpture.
• 🎭 Cubism introduced the concept of mask-like faces in paintings, which was a departure from traditional portraiture.
• 🔄 The movement evolved through stages, including Analytical Cubism, characterized by a focus on form over color, and Synthetic Cubism, which introduced collage techniques.
• 🎭 Other notable Cubist artists include Juan Gris, Fernand Léger, Albert Gleizes, Jean Metzinger, and Robert Delaunay.
• 🌐 Cubism had a profound influence on other art movements such as Futurism, Vorticism, Constructivism, Expressionism, Dadaism, and Surrealism.
• 🌟 The movement's impact extended beyond visual arts, influencing literature, fashion, and music, and is still recognized as a significant art style today.

Q & A

Who are the two artists credited with inventing Cubism?

Pablo Picasso and his friend and fellow artist George Braque are credited with inventing Cubism.

In what year did Cubism begin?

Cubism began in France in 1907.

What was the impact of Paul Cézanne’s posthumous retrospective on the development of Cubism?

The retrospective had an immediate and profound impact on young artists, including Picasso, and is considered a watershed moment for the visual culture at the beginning of the 20th century.

What is considered to be one of the first Cubist paintings?

Picasso's painting 'Les Demoiselles d’Avignon' is considered to be among the first Cubist paintings.

How did Cubism challenge traditional Western European painting standards?

Cubism challenged traditional standards by introducing distorted figures composed of flat, abstracted geometric shapes, eliminating linear perspective, chiaroscuro, and the old standards of beauty.

What influence did African and Native American cultures have on Cubism?

Cubists were greatly influenced by African and Native American cultures, Assyrian and Egyptian art, and Iberian sculpture, which contributed to the popularity of mask-like faces in their paintings.

What did Picasso learn from African masks that influenced his painting?

Picasso learned what painting was really about after seeing African masks at the Ethnographic Museum in Paris, which influenced his approach to form and representation.

Who coined the term 'Cubism' and how?

Art critic Louis Vauxcelles coined the term 'Cubism' after seeing Braque’s painting 'Houses at L’Estaque' and referring to it as 'bizarreries cubiques' (cubic oddities).

How did Cubism change the way artists approached the depiction of three-dimensional space?

Cubism changed the way artists approached three-dimensional space by breaking down objects into basic geometrical forms and using multiple viewpoints, allowing the merging of foreground and background on a flat, two-dimensional surface.

What are the two main stages of Cubism?

The two main stages of Cubism are Analytical Cubism and Synthetic Cubism.

How did the use of collage in Synthetic Cubism challenge the notion of 'Fine Art'?

Synthetic Cubism challenged the notion of 'Fine Art' by incorporating real objects like newspaper, colored paper, or cloth onto the canvas, creating a synthesis of fragments from the real world and the painting world.

What other art movements were influenced by Cubism?

Cubism influenced Futurism in Italy, Vorticism in the UK, Constructivism in Russia, and Expressionism in Germany. It also influenced the Dadaists and Surrealists.

How did Cubism influence other forms of artistic expression besides painting?

Cubism influenced modernist novelists and poets like James Joyce, Gertrude Stein, William Faulkner, and even fashion designers like Paul Poiret and Coco Chanel. It also had traces in Igor Stravinsky’s music.

What is one of Picasso's most famous paintings and what is its significance?

One of Picasso's most famous paintings is 'Guernica', which is an anti-war piece inspired by the Nazi bombing of a small Basque town during the Spanish Civil War. It is a masterpiece that synthesizes 40 years of Picasso’s work and is of universal quality.