Cubism: A revolution in modern painting, unfolding a multi-dimensional world onto a flat surface

Cubism, which was born in the early 20th century, is an innovative art movement that overturned the traditions of Western painting and opened the door to modern art. Founded by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, Cubism expressed a multidimensional world on a flat surface by capturing an object from multiple perspectives at the same time and breaking it down and reconstructing it into geometric forms. In this article, we will explain the characteristics and historical background of Cubism, representative artists and works, and the influence of Cubism in modern times.

What is Cubism? - Multiple Perspectives and Geometric Forms

Cubism is an avant-garde movement in painting that originated in France in the early 20th century. It was founded by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque around 1907, and developed mainly in Europe from the 1910s to the 1920s. Cubist painters rejected the illusionistic spatial expression based on perspective and chiaroscuro, which had been a tradition in painting since the Renaissance, and instead expressed a multidimensional world on a flat surface by capturing the subject from multiple perspectives at the same time and breaking it down and reconstructing it into geometric forms.

Some of the characteristics of Cubism are:

• Multiple Viewpoints: Instead of painting an object from a single fixed viewpoint, Cubist painters tried to express the whole view of the object by combining images seen from various angles. For example, images from multiple perspectives such as the front, side, and top are mixed in one painting.
• Geometric Forms: Cubist painters emphasized the flatness of their paintings by breaking down objects into geometric forms and then reconstructing them. They represented their objects using simple solid shapes such as cylinders, spheres, and cones. They also incorporated the real world into their paintings using collage techniques, pasting pieces of newspaper, wallpaper, and other materials onto the canvas.
• Ambiguity of space: In Cubist paintings, perspective and chiaroscuro are denied, and spatial depth is ambiguous. For this reason, Cubist works may appear abstract at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, fragments of objects and hints of space are hidden, allowing the viewer to reconstruct the world of the painting using these clues.

History of Cubism - The Birth of Modern Art

Cubism began when Picasso exhibited "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" around 1907. This work is characterized by primitive forms influenced by African sculpture and spatial expression from multiple perspectives. "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" was the starting point of Cubism and had a major impact on modern painting thereafter. Picasso and Braque jointly developed the theory and techniques of Cubism, and in the early 1910s established a style called Analytical Cubism, in which subjects were thoroughly broken down and reconstructed in geometric forms. From around 1912, they moved to a style called Synthetic Cubism, which used collage techniques to create more structured paintings.

Cubism influenced not only painting but also sculpture and architecture, and its spirit was passed on to various avant-garde movements of the 20th century, such as Futurism, Dadaism, and Surrealism.

Cubist artists and their works

Cubism has many great artists, some of the most famous being Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque and Juan Gris.

• Pablo Picasso: Spanish painter and sculptor. One of the founders of Cubism. Created many masterpieces that represent 20th century art, including "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" and "Guernica."
• Georges Braque: French painter. Together with Picasso, he founded Cubism. He developed various styles of Cubism, such as analytical cubism and synthetic cubism. His representative works include "The Houses of L'Estaque" and "Man with a Guitar."
• Juan Gris: Spanish painter. He participated in the Cubist movement and created works that emphasized the harmony of color and form. His representative works include "Still Life with Checkerboard" and "Violin."

The Modern Influence of Cubism

Cubism has had a major impact on art since the 20th century. Various art movements, such as abstract painting, pop art, and minimalism, have inherited the innovative spirit of Cubism. Cubist techniques are also applied to modern graphic design and product design.

Cubism is a representative movement of 20th century art that overturned the traditions of Western painting and opened the door to modern art. Its influence continues to extend to contemporary art in various ways.