PICASSO

&
CUBISM
A style of painting and sculpture developed in Paris
in the early 1900s

Known for the reduction and breaking apart of
objects into abstract geometric shapes
Basic Definition of Cubism
Analytic cubism: first phase of cubism where artists
analyzed objects from every angle and combined the
views into one whole.

Synthetic cubism: paintings and drawings were
constructed of objects/shapes cut from paper or other
materials.
Two Types of Cubism
General History
Cubism was the joint invention of Pablo Picasso
(1881-1973) and another artist named Georges
Braque (1882-1963). They were inspired by Paul
Czanne (1839-1906).

Before 1906, Picassos work reflected society and
was triggered by emotion; however, in 1906 the
Louvre opened a display of ancient Iberian sculpture
and this marked a turning point for Picasso.

Head of Man: Full face view
Iberian Sculpture (Osuna)
Spain
Sculpture

(http://rubens.anu.edu.au/htdocs/surveys/
charlotte/bycountry/display00474.html)
Iberian Sculpture
Hunting Scene
Iberian Sculpture (Osuna)
Spain
Sculpture


(http://rubens.anu.edu.au/htdocs/surveys/
charlotte/bycountry/display00474.html)

Picassos Iberian period and the beginning of Cubism
emerged in 1907 with his piece, Les Demoiselles dAvignon.
Other Inspirations
In his creation of Les Demoiselles dAvignon, Picasso also
looked to Greek vase paintings, Egyptian art and African masks
Geometric funerary amphora,
c. 750 B.C.
(National Museum, Athens)

(http://www.sandrashaw.com/AH1L14.htm)


Greek Vase Paintings
Egyptian Art
Wooden Maskette
Lega
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ht 7 7/8"
20th century

(http://206.103.223.67/shango/gallery.cgi?cat=AF)
African Masks
Czannes Influence

Czanne was a French artist and Post
Impressionist painter. He became very interested in
form and believed it was more important than
subject.

Les Demoiselles was also inspired by Czannes
Bather compositions.
Picasso and Cubists Techniques
When creating Les Demoiselles, Picasso reduced the image
to its bare essentials.

Les Demoiselles has angular, elongated forms, and harsh
white highlights.

Picasso avoided using black paint, and turned to darker
blues and greens instead.

Picasso used a simple colour palette, as he wanted shape to
be the main focus.

Cubists would draw an object from one angle, and then
overtop draw it again from another angle.
Braque and Cubists Techniques
His canvases were thinly painted.
His work is geometric
He rejected single viewpoint perspective.
There is no foreground, middle ground, or background.
Buildings, rocks and trees are all piled on top of each
other rather than in front or behind.
Viaduct at L'Estaque
Georges Braque, 1908
Oil on canvas, 72.5 x 59 cm
Muse National d'Art Moderne,

(http://tiger.towson.edu/users/epech1/)

Cubism Continued
(Synthetic Cubism)

Cubism seemed to become progressively more abstract.

Around 1912, Picasso and Braque discovered collage
and began using strips of paper in their paintings.

Picasso used collage by turning one object into another
e.g. wallpaper that becomes a tablecloth, newspaper that
becomes a violin.

Braque, more logically, would turn simulated wood-grain
paper into a guitar or a table.
Musical Instruments
Picasso
1912. Oil, sawdust and gypsum
on cardboard. The Hermitage, St.
Petersburg, Russia.

(http://www.abcgallery.com/P/picasso/picas
so-3.html)
Woman with a Guitar
Braque
1913, in the Muse Nationale dArt Moderne,
Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France. Oil
and charcoal on canvas, 51 by 29 inches (130
by 73 cms).

(http://www.answers.com/topic/braque-woman-400pix-jpg)