What is Cubism?

What is Cubism?

Y7

_{OUR LEARNING TARGET}

to explore the ideas, beliefs and values of cubists

The Beginning

In around 1907, two artists called Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque developed a revolutionary new style of painting which transformed the way everyday objects, landscapes and people into geometric shapes.

'Bizarre Cubiques'

In 1908, art critic Louis Vauxcelles, saw some landscape paintings by Georges Braque in a Paris exhibition, and described them as 'cubist oddities'. The name of this style - 'Cubism' was born.

Still Life with a Volume of Wither's Emblemes by Edward Collier, 1696

Georges Braque, Mandora [1909-10]

Poll

Which of the two still life paintings looks most realistic?

_{How did Collier make the objects look realistic?}

• tone

• colour

• perspective

_{What rules do you think the cubists broke?}

• laws of perspective

• limited use of colour

• bold application of paint

Multiple Select

1. Select the two artists who pioneered Cubism.

• Van Gogh

• Pablo Picasso

• Andy Warhol

• Georges Braque

• Carvaggio

Multiple Choice

2. Which of these time periods accurately marks the start of cubism?

• 1820-1830

• 1870-1880

• 1900-1910

• 1960-1970

Multiple Choice

3. How did the cubists get their name?

• from art critic, Louis Vauxcelles

• they named themselves

• after the name of an art gallery

CUBISM EXPLAINED

The Illusion of Space

Since the Renaissance times, artists had aimed to create the illusion of three-dimensional space in their paintings

They wanted the experience of looking at a painting to be like looking through a window onto a real scene.

_{How do you make things look 3-dimensional on a 2-dimensional surface?}

• use of vanishing points

• depth of tone

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci [1495-98]

THE ILLUSION

Today, artists still use linear perspective to create the illusion of space.

A NEW REALITY

The Cubists, however, felt that this type of illusion was trickery and does not give a real experience of an object

A CUBIST'S AIM

was to show things as they really are, not just to show what they look like.

Cubists felt they could give the viewer a more accurate understanding of an object, a landscape or a person by showing it from different angles or viewpoints.

_{GEOMETRIC SHAPES}

• were used to represent different angles or viewpoints

• served to inform the viewer

• created fragmented and abstract images

Juan Gris' Guitar

• guitar features

• type of guitar?

• shapes?

• textures?

Multiple Choice

5. TRUE or FALSE? The Cubists supported the use of linear perspective.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

6. The primary aim of the Cubist was to give a real experience of the object.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

8. What did the Cubists use to show different viewpoints?

• a kaleidoscope

• individual canvasses

• broken glass

• geometric shapes

Multiple Choice

9. Which Cubist painted 'Still Life with Guitar'?

• Georges Braque

• Juan Gris

• Pablo Picasso

• Fernand Leger

Open Ended

10. Write at least three adjectives that would describe a cubist artwork.

Open Ended

Provide any feedback that would help improve your learning or enjoyment.