Cubism was the first abstract art movement developed by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in the early 20th century. They were influenced by Paul Cézanne's geometric shapes and multiple perspectives in paintings as well as African masks. Cubist works depict objects from various angles simultaneously on a two-dimensional surface using geometric forms rather than realistic rendering. Early Cubist works incorporated collage elements, while later analytical Cubism reduced forms to basic shapes and synthetic Cubism reintroduced more color and discernible subjects. Other notable Cubist artists included Juan Gris, Fernand Léger, Robert Delaunay, and Marcel Duchamp.

1. CUBISM
THE FIRST FORM OF ABSTRACT ART
PICASSO AND BRAQUE WITH INFLUENCES FROM CÉZANNE

2. INFLUENCES ON CUBISM
• Paul Cézanne changed
styles and habits
• Variations of tone and color
• Geometric shapes: cylinder,
sphere, cone
• Varied approach while
revisiting subjects
• “My one and only master…
Cézanne was like the father
of us all”. -Pablo Picasso
Large Bathers – Paul Cezanne – 1899-1906

3. INFLUENCES ON CUBISM
• African art has influenced
Fang Mask 56 – the
many art movements Fang tribe
• Motivated artists to create
their own interpretations of
what they saw
• Themes adapted from
African art
• Distorted African masks Les Demoiselles
influenced the earliest cubist d’Avignon – Pablo
paintings. Picasso – 1907

4. INTRODUCTION TO CUBISM
Cubism is a form of Characteristics:
abstract art which • Objects are shown from
emphasizes the two- multiple perspectives at
dimensionality of the once.
canvas. • Everything is portrayed
with geometric shapes.
The Guitar
• It portrayed a “new
Player – Pablo way of seeing,” which
Picasso –
1910
infused observations
and memories into
paintings.

5. EARLY CUBISM
Les Demoiselles d’Avignon – Viaduct at L'Estaque – Georges
Pablo Picasso – 1907 Braque – 1908

6. ANALYTICAL CUBISM
(Or, that period of cubism where it’s really hard to tell
what anything is, and who the artist is.)
Characteristics of Analytical Cubism:
•Objects are “analyzed” from many perspectives.
•Artist incorporates many (if not all) of these
perspectives in the painting itself.
•The painting, instead of directly showing the
subject, “evokes a sense of the subject.”

7. Fruit Dish, Ace of
Clubs – Georges
Braque - 1913

8. Still Life With a
Violin –
Georges Braque
– 1912

9. The Guitar
Player – Pablo
Picasso – 1910

10. Portrait of Daniel-
Henry Kahnweiler –
Pablo Picasso – 1910

11. GUESS THE ARTIST!

12. GUESS THE ARTIST!
Ma Jolie – Pablo Picasso – 1911 Violin and Jug – Georges Braque – 1910

13. SYNTHETIC CUBISM
(or, thank God, I can actually tell what I’m looking at
in this painting!)
Characteristics of Synthetic Cubism:
•Objects are still drawn from multiple perspectives,
BUT…
•They are more discernable,
•And they are more colorful.

14. Black Fish – Georges Braque – 1942

15. Le Jour – Georges Braque – 1929

16. Three Musicians – Pablo Picasso – 1921

17. Still Life With Mandolin and Guitar – Pablo Picasso - 1924

18. OTHER NOTABLES
• Juan Gris is considered the “Third Musketeer” of
Cubism
• Fernand Léger painted World War II inspired
Cubist paintings, which created social
commentary of the time he lived in
• Robert Delaunay spun off of Cubism with
“orphism,” which is just cubism with more circles
• Marcel Duchamp didn’t always paint, but when
he did, he painted cubism.

19. Guitar and Clarinet – Juan Gris – 1920

20. Soldiers Playing Cards – Fernand Léger – 1917

21. Homage to Bleriot – Robert Delaunay – 1914

22. Nude Descending a
Staircase – Marcel
Duchamp – 1912