Cubism started in 1906 with Pablo Picasso and

Cubism started in 1906 with Pablo Picasso and George Braque. Picasso and Braque started to express space in geometric terms-they would take an image and break it down into geometric shapes like squares and rectangles. These artists would then ‘rearrange’ the shapes to create a Cubist picture. By ‘deconstructing’ or ‘breaking down’ a picture into geometric shapes, artists were allowing the viewer to see more than one viewpoint at the same time, and also to ‘flatten’ space Picasso worked with Braque to bring Cubism into a full-blown art movement by 1910.

Picasso’s Still Life with Bowl and Fruit

Picasso’s Harlequin with Violin

Picasso’s Still Life with Death's Head

Picasso’s Bread, Fruit and Table

Picasso: Landscape with Bridge, 1909 Braque: Houses at La Estaque, 1909

Picasso: Houses with Trees, 1907 Picasso: Reservoir Horta, 1909

Picasso: The Mandolin, 1910 Braque, Violin

Picasso’s Three Musicians

Do you see the difference between Picasso’s self portrait in 1899 and his Cubist self portrait? Self Portrait 18991900 Self Portrait, Cubist period

Picasso: Ambroise Voilard, 1910

Picasso: Dora Maar, Sitting, 1939

Do you see the similarity between Picasso’s Dora Maar and Leonardo Da. Vinci’s Mona Lisa? How are these two paintings different?