The Cubist

Cubism became one of the most influential art styles that came out of the Impressionist movement.  It was was birthed or linked from "Primitivism and non-western sources." The emphasis of the work was on perspective, shape, and form.  It usually went beyond abstract form;  it re-assembled fractured objects into geometric patterns and shapes that created three-dimensional compositions of  everyday objects and people. Objects could now be looked at or analyzed form many viewpoints because there was not a liner or direct perspective in which to understand them.  Pablo Picasso and Georges Barque are seen as the father's of this movement. Exploration and world travel allowed Picasso to be influenced by African Art and Tribal masks that were custom of the time.  There was also a simplification of natural forms in to geometric shapes such as cylinders, spheres, cones, boxes, squares, rectangles, lines and circles. 

Liubov Popova (Russia, 1889-1924)
The Traveler, 1915
Oil on canvas


"Popova studied Cubism in Paris in 1912, Her painting of The Traveler teeters on the edge of abstraction." It is noted, that "composition is broken into fragments, one can still discern remnants of reality." Cubist always tried to have a objective or subject to their work. This fracturing or dismantling in to broken shapes was only to achieve overlapping  planes of reality. 












*A close up of the above painting

Alexander Archipenko (Ukrainian/American, 1887-1964)
Figure, 1917
Watercolor and pencil on wove paper


Here we can see the shape of woman, sitting down at rest, shown by use of many geometric forms without making the image distancing or cold.  Although if compared to a Impressionistic painting or a Post Impressionist painting some might find it hard to determine what this subject matter was. 


















Below is a sculpture by Jacques Lipchitz (French, 1891-1973) Titled the Bather III, 1917 (bronze)

The Norton Simon is not home to many of Picasso's earlier works which show some of the foundations of Cubism.  It was however part of his continuing style,  so remnants of his techniques and use of abstract form can be found in much of his later work.  


Pablo Picasso (spanish, 1881-1973)
Head of a Woman, c. 1927
Oil on canvas

Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1818-1973)
Woman with Mandolin, 1925
Oil on canvas


Here we can see that a more defined and realistic perception of a woman.  Although she is still made up of dismantled and flat colored planes.  

Jacques Lipchitz 

BATHER, 1923-25

* All pictures were taken by me, and links are included below where more information was referenced or can be found. 

The Metropolitan museum of Art (cubism)

The Lilith Gallery