38 Curious Cubism Facts About The Abstract Art Movement

Cubism is among the most well-known and significant art trends in history.

This movement was founded by Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso, and French artist, Georges Braque. We will take a closer look at the history and meaning behind this iconic art movement.

Cubism was founded in 1907 when Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque started working together on a series of paintings that featured distorted perspectives and geometric shapes. This collaboration marked the beginning of the Cubist movement, which would go on to become one of the most popular and influential art movements of all time.

Cubism was a breakthrough way to express visual reality and was created by painters Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in the years 1907–08.

They combined multiple perspectives of topics (typically subjects or persons) in a single painting style, resulting in fragmented and abstracted works. Pablo Picasso is among the most well-known artists and abstractionists of all time.

This artist was a pioneer of the cubist movement, and his work has been highly influential on subsequent generations of artists. Other notable figures in cubism include Georges Braque, Juan Gris, and Marcel Duchamp.

Pablo Picasso was inspired to start painting in Cubism after he saw a Paul Cezanne painting at an art exhibition. Pablo Picasso believed that the Cubist style was truer to life because they captured the physical reality of objects.

Each individual viewer will see something different in these pieces, and that is the beauty of cubism. Some people prefer to focus on geometric shapes and colors, while others enjoy exploring the various perspectives and hidden details.

Cubist artworks are usually characterized by their geometric shapes and distorted perspectives. However, there is no one 'standard' cubist style of painting.

Every artist who identifies with the movement has their own unique approach to creating cubist art. The application of geometric forms characterizes this painting style, distorted perspectives, and bright colors.

Many people believe that the cubist movement was inspired by the work of Paul Cezanne. Paul Cezanne is known for his paintings featuring geometric shapes and distorted perspectives, which were a major influence on Picasso and Braque. In fact, when Picasso first started working with Braque, he referred to their collaboration as 'the Cézanne cubist period.'

Cubism was a movement that lasted for about 20 years, from 1907 to 1927. However, the influence of Cubism can still be seen in modern art today.

What is cubism?

• Cubism is an abstract art movement that was founded in 1907 by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. The artists involved in this Cubism movement sought to break away from traditional painting techniques and create art that featured distorted perspectives and geometric shapes.
• The name 'cubism' was given to the movement by Henri Matisse, who was inspired by the way that Picasso and Braque had 'cubed' up their subjects.
• Cubism was created as a response to the traditional art movements of the time. The artists who founded the movement were bored with the realism and naturalism that had been popular for centuries, and they wanted to create something new and innovative.
• They believed that art should be about exploring different perspectives and experimenting with new shapes and colors.
• Cubism is regarded as one of the most well-known and important art trends in history. It has had a major impact on subsequent movements of art, and it continues to be studied and appreciated by artists and art lovers alike.
• There are several key characteristics that define the cubist painting style. Firstly, the paintings are usually composed of geometric shapes that have been distorted to create a more abstract effect.
• Secondly, the artists often used multiple perspectives in a single painting to give the viewer a more complex understanding of the subjects. And finally, analytical cubist painting is often characterized by bright colors and bold patterns.
• The meaning behind Cubism is often debated, and there is no correct answer. However, many experts believe that the movement was intended to depict objects from multiple viewpoints simultaneously.
• This was a radical departure from traditional artwork movements, which typically focused on depicting objects in a single perspective.
• Some of the most famous cubist artworks include Les Demoiselles D'Avignon, Guitar, and Ma Jolie. These pieces are all characterized by their distorted perspectives and geometric shapes.

Founder And Origin History Of Cubism

• Pablo Picasso is credited with founding the Cubist movement, and he is considered to be one of the most influential artists of all time. However, Georges Braque deserves just as much credit for the creation of Cubism.
• The two men first started these artworks together in 1907, and their collaboration marked the beginning of the Cubist movement.
• Interestingly, the origins of Cubism can be traced back to prehistoric cave paintings. This canvas featured simple geometric shapes and perspectives that were later replicated in the cubist works of Picasso and Braque. In fact, many experts believe that Cubism was directly influenced by these ancient cave paintings.
• In 1909, Picasso started working on a series of artworks that featured African tribal masks. These cubist works were intended to show the influence of African art on Cubism.
• Cubism quickly gained popularity, and soon, other famous artists began to experiment with the painting style. The cubist movement continued to grow in popularity throughout the 1910s and '20s, and it eventually became one of the most famous painting movements of all time.
• Cubism was heavily influenced by the theories of Henri Bergson and Albert Einstein. Bergson's theory of time argued that our experience of time is subjective, and Einstein's theory of relativity introduced the idea that time is relative.
• These theories challenged traditional ideas about time and space, and they had a profound impact on the development of cubist art. The cubists believed that they could capture the essence of objects by representing them in a simplified geometric form. They saw their canvas as a way of exploring the hidden truths of the art world.
• Cubism is also often seen as a protest against traditional artwork movements such as realism and impressionism. The cubists believed that these movements were too limiting, and they wanted to create a painting that was expressive and innovative.

Influences Of Cubism

• Cubism was heavily influenced by the theories of French artist Henri Bergson, who believed that time and space were fluid concepts. This idea was reflected in the cubist paintings, which featured objects that were broken down into geometric shapes and distorted to create a new, abstract perspective.
• Cubism was indeed a revolutionary new way to express reality created by painters Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso in the years 1907–08. They combined multiple perspectives of topics (typically objects or persons) in the single painting, resulting in fragmented and abstracted canvas work.
• Cubism was a very abstract heavy painting movement, and its meaning is still debated by painting historians today. Some people believe that it was an attempt to represent the chaotic nature of modern art life, while others argue that it was simply an exploration of new artistic possibilities.
• However, one thing that all experts agree on is that Cubism was a major turning point in the history of art.
• The term 'cubism' was actually given to the painting movement by a critic named Louis Vauxcelles. He saw one of Picasso's early cubist paintings and remarked that it looked like 'cubes of bacon.'
• Cubism was also influenced by the two most popular art movements of the time: impressionism and fauvism. Impressionism focused on capturing realistic scenes in truthful styles, while fauvism favored bright, bold colors and expressive brushstrokes.
• Cubists believed that these styles could be combined to create a new type of painting that was more abstract and expressive.
• Cubism is characterized by its geometric shapes, distorted perspectives, and bright colors. Picasso and Braque often used simple shapes like squares, circles, and triangles to create their paintings. They also liked to experiment with different textures and materials, such as sandpaper or newsprint.
• The first cubist painting was called Les Demoiselles D'Avignon, and it caused a huge uproar when it was first exhibited in 1907. Many people were shocked by its abstract and provocative painting style, and some even accused Picasso of being a Satanist!
• In the '20s, Cubism began to lose its appeal as a new painting movement called 'surrealism' emerged. However, the influence of Cubism can still be seen in the work of modern artists such as David Hockney and Roy Lichtenstein.

Phases Of Cubism

• Cubism went through several different phases over the years. The first phase, known as Analytical Cubism, was characterized by precise shapes and angles.
• The Analytical Cubism phase lasted from 1907 to 1912. Analytical Cubism involved breaking objects down into their individual geometric shapes and then reconstructing them in a new way that highlighted their abstract qualities.
• In 1913, Cubism entered its second phase, which is known as Synthetic Cubism. During the Synthetic Cubism phase, artists began to experiment with new materials and textures, such as fabric and cardboard. The Synthetic Cubism phase lasted until 1919.
• The third and final phase of Cubism was called Constructivism. During this phase, artists focused on creating three-dimensional sculptures and collages. This phase lasted from the '20s to 1924.
• Despite the fact that Cubism was one of the most inventive and significant painting movements of the 20th century, it frequently reverted to the classic genre of still life painting.
• Still-life paintings have been around for a long time, yet even modern art styles, like Cubism, have their own spin on the traditional genre.
• According to Pablo Picasso, the roots of Cubism can be traced back to African masks. He was fascinated by their simple shapes and geometric patterns, and he believed that they could act as a reference of motivation for new artistic forms.
• Other cubist artists who were influential in the development of Cubism include Henri Matisse and Robert Delaunay.
• The Cubism movement has had a significant impact on popular culture over the years. For example, it was famously referenced in the song 'Smoke On The Water' by Deep Purple.
• The opening line of the song goes, 'We all came down to Montreux / To make records with Frank Zappa.' This is a reference to the Montreux Jazz Festival, which was founded by Claude Nobs in 1967. Zappa was a big fan of Cubism, and he often incorporated its elements into his music.