Characteristics Of Cubism

When you stroll past that fancy art museum, and cannot help but wonder what art enthusiasts find so intriguing about an art piece, you might not have noticed or grasped the simple yet striking art styles that contain a deeper meaning within them. Did you ever think that what you might have seen could have been Picasso’s fine definition of an abstract work of art called ‘Cubism’? Who can ever forget the treasured involvement of the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso in the world of art? Famous artists all around the world set their individualistic styles and brought about new trends in the field of art. It was during one such period between the years 1909-1912, that Pablo Picasso, along with Georges Braque, developed a style known as ‘Cubism’. In simple terms, Cubism refers to simple objects and art works broken down, analyzed and re-arranged into an abstract form that helps art enthusiasts view the piece of art from different viewpoints, much like the different sides of a ‘cube’. The ambiguity in this form of art is what makes it a striking style. To learn more about the characteristics of this popular art style, scroll down.

Cubism is known for being an ‘abstract’ form of art. One of the most important characteristics of this style came about when Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque realized that, in order to make their art more unique and ‘life-like’, it would be imperative to reconstruct and break down various art works. These works were then pieced back together with a three dimensional outlook on a two dimensional surface. The idea was to bring out brevity and depth at the same time. In simple terms, the idea was to get cubist artists or painters to basically show more than one view at a time; this art form enabled them to represent their art or object on multiple plains and surfaces.

It is a known fact that Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque popularized this style and helped make it even more realistic with the aid of ‘geometric shapes’. The foundation of cubist artworks is broken down into natural forms of geometrical patterns such as little cubes, edges and three dimensional rhombuses. The idea behind using geometric shapes as a base was to portray distorted, abstract versions that would require a discerning eye to comprehend the object and an appetite for intangible art.

Cubism started off as a simplistic form of art that developed into an abstract style through the years. During the renaissance years, most artists depicted their works on a flat surface or a plane. Cubism was obviously in complete contrast to the conventional styles and went on to become one of the most striking yet, unpretentious forms of art. Being abstract was the call of the era and, with all boundaries broken, Picasso and Braque went on to create some of the most astounding forms of art following this style. Giving up Fauvist and Pointillist arts, many artists went on to adapt to the new cubist movement. Not only was it simple, but it also carried depth with no logic and truth. From the use of color to flattering compositions of two dimensional faces and watchful eyes, this style became a legendary one.

Cubism was further broken down into two separate divisions. One was known as Analytical Cubism and the other was Synthetic Cubism. Analytical Cubism was more prominent during the Edwardian era and was concerned with the breaking down of complex artworks and paintings into analytical, geometric structures and shapes. These artworks were represented like drawings that lacked in color and concentrated more on definition, depth and form.

Synthetic Cubism, on the other hand, was more believable and usually comprised of collages made out of cuttings, music sheets and other objects. This style was also famous for its vivid use of color and other decorative effects. These artworks were a far cry from the initial analytical cubist art forms and created a fuller and more flattering composition. One of Picasso’s noted works in the period of synthetic cubism was the portrait ‘Still Life with Chair Caning’ that was made in the year 1912 and marked an ornate end to the great, Edwardian Era.

 

Pablo Picasso once said, “I begin with an idea and then it becomes something else” and fittingly described the journey and the providence of the cubist art movement. From his indelible, Fauvist portraits to his depth-driven cubist artworks, Picasso, with his affiliation with Georges Braque, brought about commendable amendments in the world of art. What makes this art form unique even to this day is that there is no logic behind it. Everything that boils down to this art style lies in its ingenuity, ambiguity and the different perspectives portrayed to the world.