Cubist

Definition

Cubism is an early-20th century avant-garde art movement that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture. Cubist artists sought to depict the world from multiple perspectives simultaneously, breaking down and reassembling objects in an abstracted, fragmented manner.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cubism was pioneered by the artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in the early 1900s.
2. Cubist artists sought to depict the essence of an object by breaking it down into geometric shapes and planes from multiple viewpoints.
3. Cubism challenged traditional Western perspective and representation, rejecting the single, fixed viewpoint in favor of a more dynamic, multi-dimensional approach.
4. Analytical Cubism, the earlier phase, emphasized the fragmentation of form, while Synthetic Cubism incorporated collage elements and a more vibrant color palette.
5. Cubism had a profound influence on subsequent avant-garde movements, such as Futurism, Orphism, and Purism.

Review Questions

• Explain how Cubist artists sought to depict the world from multiple perspectives simultaneously.
  • Cubist artists, such as Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, rejected the traditional single-point perspective in favor of a more dynamic, multi-dimensional approach. They broke down and fragmented objects into geometric planes and facets, representing multiple viewpoints of the same subject within a single composition. This allowed them to capture the essence of an object by depicting it from various angles and perspectives, challenging the conventional representation of reality.
• Describe the key differences between Analytical Cubism and Synthetic Cubism.
  • Analytical Cubism, the earlier phase of the movement, was characterized by the fragmentation of forms into geometric planes and the use of a muted, neutral color palette. Artists focused on deconstructing objects and figures, emphasizing the underlying structure and geometry. In contrast, Synthetic Cubism, the later phase, incorporated collage elements and a more vibrant, decorative color scheme. Artists began to reassemble fragmented forms in a more synthetic manner, incorporating diverse materials and creating a more cohesive, visually striking composition.
• Discuss the influence of Cubism on subsequent avant-garde movements and its broader impact on the art world.
  • Cubism had a profound and lasting impact on the art world, serving as a catalyst for numerous avant-garde movements that followed. The fragmented, multi-dimensional approach pioneered by Cubist artists inspired the development of Futurism, which explored the dynamism of modern life, and Orphism, which focused on the expressive use of color. Additionally, Cubism's rejection of traditional representation and its emphasis on the underlying structure of objects influenced the emergence of Purism, which sought to create a more rational, harmonious aesthetic. The revolutionary impact of Cubism extended beyond the visual arts, as it also influenced developments in music, literature, and architecture, ultimately transforming the way artists and audiences perceived and engaged with the world around them.

Related terms

Analytical Cubism: The first phase of Cubism, characterized by the fragmentation of forms into geometric planes and the use of a muted color palette.

Synthetic Cubism: The second phase of Cubism, which incorporated collage elements and a more vibrant, decorative color scheme.

Facet: The individual, fragmented planes or surfaces that make up a Cubist representation of an object or figure.