Cubism

Definition

Cubism is an avant-garde art movement that emerged in the early 20th century, characterized by the use of geometric shapes, interlocking planes, and fragmented forms to depict subjects from multiple viewpoints. This innovative approach aimed to challenge traditional perspectives and representations in art, emphasizing abstraction over realism. By breaking subjects down into their basic components, cubism paved the way for future artistic movements, including Orphism and Surrealism.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cubism was co-founded by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque around 1907, marking a significant shift in the way art was created and perceived.
2. The movement is typically divided into two phases: Analytic Cubism, which focused on breaking down objects into fragmented shapes, and Synthetic Cubism, which incorporated collage techniques and brighter colors.
3. Cubist artists often portrayed still lifes, portraits, and landscapes, using overlapping planes to convey depth and dimension while deconstructing traditional representation.
4. The influence of African art and Iberian sculpture played a crucial role in shaping the visual language of cubism, prompting artists to explore abstraction more freely.
5. Cubism laid the groundwork for many modern art movements that followed, including Futurism, Constructivism, and even aspects of Surrealism, as it encouraged artists to rethink representation and reality.

Review Questions

• How did cubism challenge traditional perspectives in art during its emergence in the early 20th century?
  • Cubism challenged traditional perspectives by breaking down subjects into geometric shapes and interlocking planes that represented multiple viewpoints simultaneously. Instead of creating a single perspective like in classical art, cubist artists deconstructed objects to reveal their underlying structure. This innovative approach shifted the focus from realistic representation to abstraction, influencing how artists perceived and depicted reality.
• Discuss how Orphism evolved from cubism and what distinctive features it introduced to the art world.
  • Orphism emerged from cubism as a response that emphasized color and light rather than the strict geometric forms that characterized early cubism. While cubists like Picasso and Braque focused on fragmented shapes and multiple perspectives, Orphists like Robert Delaunay introduced a more lyrical approach that celebrated movement and dynamic color relationships. This shift allowed for a greater emotional resonance in artworks, making Orphism distinct from its cubist roots.
• Evaluate the impact of cubism on the development of surrealist techniques in visual art.
  • Cubism's emphasis on abstraction and fragmented forms significantly influenced surrealist techniques by encouraging artists to explore dream-like imagery and subconscious realities. Surrealists adopted the idea of breaking down conventional representations but took it further by incorporating unexpected juxtapositions and bizarre combinations of objects. This fusion of cubist abstraction with surrealist themes allowed for new explorations of perception and reality in art, making it possible for surrealists to push boundaries even further than their cubist predecessors.

Related terms

Geometric Abstraction: An art style that reduces subjects to geometric shapes and forms, emphasizing the use of color and composition over representational accuracy.

Collage: An artistic technique involving the assembly of different materials, such as paper and fabric, onto a single surface, which was embraced by cubist artists to enhance their compositions.

Fauvism:

An early 20th-century art movement known for its bold colors and brushwork, which influenced the development of cubism through its emphasis on color expression.