Cubism & Cubism artists

The Cubist art movement existed for around eighteen years. It represented a dramatic and new style of art
and consisted of a need and want to change the meaning of art.

In 1907 Picasso painted 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon'. A painting that consisted of five female nudes. The
The painting focused on angular shapes creating the form of the nudes. The appearance is a fractured
distorted image. This work inspired artists such as Braque and Cezanne to emulate Picassos work with their
interpretation

The name Cubism appeared when painter Henri Matisse described Braque's 'Houses at L'Estaque' (1908) as
composed of cubes.

Cubism morphed from Analytical Cubism from the period of 1910 – 1912 to Synthetic Cubism which continued
after 1912.

Analytical Cubism focused on the idea of studying form and breaking it down into angles and lines. The
appearance of analytical Cubism is very sculptural like. An example of this is Picasso's 'Girl with
a Mandolin'. The colours were few so not to distract from the primary function of Cubism which is to
concentrate on the structure of form itself.

Synthetic cubism focuses on the combination of forms and uses more in depth colour to emphasise the
combination of forms. Synthetic Cubism appears more decorative than Analytical Cubism and was a natural
progression from analytical Cubism. With synthetic cubism smooth and rough surfaces are contrasted with one
another, non painted objects like newspapers are given shades of colour to emphasise this. Synthetic cubism
also tries to illustrate the question 'what is reality and what is illusion' through the collage effect
seen in the paintings.

Cubism was a breakthrough in art and changed the concept and ideas that artists and viewers approached when
painting or viewing art. Cubism inspired a whole new thought process which lead to new styles and depth in
meaning

If you found this article interesting please read the other modern art/contemporary art movement articles outlining:Post Impressionism, Cubism, Abstract art, De Stijl, Expressionism, Conceptual Art, Fauvism, Futurism, Impressionism, minimalist, Dadaism, Pop Art, Pointillism, Op Art, Abstract Expressionism, Surrealism and other modern art, contemporary art or abstract art movements.