Premium Essay

Cubism and Geometric Abstraction

In: Other Topics

Submitted By geno02
Words 873
Pages 4
Creativity is the generating of ideas, the finding of alternatives to solve problems, the communicating with others and the entertaining of ourselves and others. As an active member of society one strives to be creative. Striving to be creative is striving to achieve innovative and complex stimulation and to communicate ideals and values with the public. Art is the most culturally universal and timeless form of creativity. Art has been the most prominent way of communicating emotion, ideals, values and entertainment for mankind over centuries. From intricate instructions on embalming to please the gods in Egypt, to Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup advertisement style pop-art, every piece of art has a history and a story to tell.
This story begins with Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, who are credited with fore fronting the avant-garde Cubist revolution. Abandoning the socially correct representations of objects, which blatantly depicted the actual appearance of said objects, Cubism reduced natural inspirations to their geometric equivalents and used varying planes to depict differing points of view according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Cubism is best described by Jacques Lipchitz, a Cubist sculpture, “Cubism is like standing at a certain point on a mountain and looking around. If you go higher, things will look different; if you go lower, again they will look different. It is a point of view" (Cubism Movement, 2012). The key to truly understanding an art form is to know why it was created, or how it evolved. Cubism was a form of rebellion from the norm that existed for centuries. This norm was around since the Renaissance time period, nearly 500 years prior to Picasso, and it was to depict an object on a specific limited plane exactly as it appeared to the artist. The modern world was starting to perceive their surroundings in a deeper and more complex way;

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Iwt Task 1

...Museum of Art, “Cubism is one of the most influential visual arts styles of the early twentieth century” (http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/cube/hd_cube.htm, n.d.). Previous periods of art tried to mimic nature and cubism rejected that theory. They were known to use multiple viewpoints. The paintings disassembled and reassembled an object in abstract form. The world was very turbulent during the time when cubism was beginning. There were many scientific, cultural and technological discoveries occurring during this time. All the changes in human history were causing many artists to look at their world differently. Cubism looked at objects from different perspectives and the changes occurring during the artists’ time. Most art pieces of this time were not valued in the same manner they are today. The preeminent artist of Cubism is Picasso. The twentieth century Cubism movement spawned most modern art forms. At the height of disassembly art was Geometric Abstraction. This form uses simple geometric forms. They do not represent anything in nature. There was no attempt at creating three-dimensional space. The paintings during this time use straight lines and curves in a linear pattern. This form of art is at times seen as a twentieth century invention, although it can be found as far back as the 5th century (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-geometric-abstraction.htm, n.d.). Similar turbulence of the Cubism period can be seen within the Geometric Abstract period...

Words: 737 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Cubism and Surrealism

...Cubism & Surrealism: A Break from Tradition Cubism & Surrealism: A Break from Tradition Since the introduction of perspective during the Renaissance, artists painted in a way that imitated the natural world. Some artists, such as the Impressionists, painted the world as seen through his own eyes. Others, such as the Realists, aimed to paint the world as it actually was by using precise detail and realistic subjects. It wasn’t until 1907 that artists began to look beyond nature and reality and into the creative corners of their minds to depict art that wasn’t based in the natural world.  Cubism pioneered the way for this break from tradition with its unique take on perspective while Surrealism deviated even further through exploration of the subconscious mind. Cubism developed in a time of technological advances. Photography had become common and was threatening painting as a way of documenting the natural world. Art needed to evolve its purpose. (Bewley, 2013) Cubists changed the way they approached painting by rejecting the tradition of painting the world as our eyes see it and, instead, they painted subjects broken up and reassembled in abstract form from different perspectives and viewpoints.  Influenced by African mask carvings, Picasso created Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, the first painting which exhibited cubism elements. (FozzyFozz, 2012) Although not considered a Cubist painting, Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon is regarded by many as a pre-Cubist painting...

Words: 1074 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Abstraction Art

...HUMMANITIES O ART Cubism was truthfully a world-shattering style of art developed by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braques. It was the first style of abstract art which progressed at the beginning of the 20th century in response to a world that was changing very quickly. Cubism was an attempt by artists to invigorate the exhausted traditions of Western art which was thought to have run their course. The Cubists tested orthodox forms of representation, such as perspective, which had been the rule since the Renaissance. Their aim was to develop a new way of seeing which replicated the modern times. Geometric abstraction became popular early 20th century as well however, it was divided into two clear versions. The Gestural abstractionist who build their style loosely on the post-impressionist. Much like Cezanne who created non-objective art focusing on the hand of the artist for illusions of depth. Then you had the artist who mimicked the “it is what it is” essentialism of Euclidean. (Goldstein, 2014) These movements were similar and transformed the world into stark shapes, lines and angles. It was a stark move into the modern ages. It a way to expression similarly the felling of wanting to radicalize the time and move away from the time of Bibliography art lessions. (n.d.). Retrieved from artfactory.com: http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/art_movements/cubism.htm Goldstein, A. M. (2014, august 18). what makes geometric arbstaction so exciting. Retrieved from artspace...

Words: 252 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Comparsion of Art Nouveau with Fauvism

...IWT Task 1 Comparison of Art Nouveau with Fauvism Sandra Robbins Student ID: 000341001 Western Governors University RN to BSN online Comparison of Art Nouveau with Fauvism A1. Earlier Historical Art Period Art Nouveau was developed during the late 19th century and early 20th century. During that time there was increased industrialism and increase in technology. It was a time of social unrest, oppression, and environmental pollution. The artists of this style reverted back to nature with the discovery of new plants and animals. They reacted against the earlier styles. ("Gateway modern age," 2001). The artists used a sensual theme with ornamental details which included “S” curves and willowy lines ("Short History, n.d.). A2. Later Historical Art Period Fauvism was also developed during the late 19th century and early 20th century and the Industrial Revolution also affected the artists. They had to deal with the pollution and social unrest. They rejected tradition but did so in a more dramatic form. Fauvism looked to nature for inspiration but in much bolder colors and more abstract form. The artists used pure unmixed colors in combination with their own personal expression. It showed the world what color could do, how it can change meaning, create feeling, and cause commotion ("Fauvism," para. 3). Fauvism broke down the traditional styles and paved the way for new. A3. Relationship Art Nouveau from the Impressionism and Post-Impressionism era was the...

Words: 857 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Cubism Movement

...Beginning in 1907 the Cubism movement was set into motion by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque; this would eventually become the most internationally influenced movement of the 20th Century. The movement has roots dating back to European traditions of the Renaissance, which can be seen it its illusionism and deconstruction of linear perspective. The Cubism movement can be broken down into two primary styles of Analytical and Synthetic Cubism, each equally influential in their own way. First up was Analytical Cubism; this references the artist objective of analyzing and breaking down of the form and space within the picture plane. Analytical Cubism was the period from 1907 to 1912; it was formed primarily at the hands of Pablo Picasso, Paul Cezanne and George Seurat. Analytical Cubism was a period of exploration in separating the perceived reality of what we can view and the intellectual reality of what we know. These characteristics include flattening the pictorial surface and simplifying the picture plane to only a basic geometric fragmentation of the subject. Additionally, minimal color was used in order to further flatten the subject. Flatness was a key characteristic of Analytical Cubism; lack of warm and cool hues prevented the subject from becoming dimensional and eliminated any single focal point. With the goal of Analytical Cubism being to separate realities, artist used easily recognizable items or ordinary subjects. Things used were often just found around the artist...

Words: 1004 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Art Impressionis

...‘Art’ is derived from a Latin word ‘ars’ which means skill. Art is the human skill of expression using different art methods such as paintings, sculpture, drawing, music, etc. Art originates in the history of all cultures throughout the world in one way or the other. From the era of Mesopotamian to to-date people have produced art, although the styles and the methods in producing art has changed, influenced and modified overtime. Some of the changes in techniques and styles used centuries ago had a revolutionary impact on the creativity of producing art pieces and these techniques are still considered to be an important factor in producing world class art pieces. Though there are many strong historical art techniques/periods that have impacted the art of today but two movements Impressionism and Postimpressionism will be highlighted in the discussion. Impressionism is the movement in the art history which started in late 19th century and early 20th century. Impressionism started in painting but was a very important and strong drive that it also influenced the music and literature along the way. The first few artist that were recognized as the initiators of Impressionism were Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Paul Cezanne, Pierre Auguste Renoir[->0], Camille Pissarro[->1], Alfred Sisley[->2], Berthe Morisot[->3],Armand Guillaumin[->4], and Frédéric Bazille[->5]. The Impressionist created their art pieces by focusing on light, atmosphere and movement rather than focusing on the object...

Words: 1728 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Works of Art Vary Greatly

...influences, while other works of art were influenced by the styles and characteristics of earlier periods and are often a continuation of or reaction to those artistic styles. For example, classical art from ancient Greece and Rome was revived during the neoclassical era. Cubism was a reaction to the style and characteristics of the earlier European tradition of realistic painting. The purpose of this task is to analyze, critique, and understand where creativity and inspiration originate.   Your goal for this task is to discuss and analyze creativity as the continuation of, or as a reaction to, an earlier historical art period. You will choose two historical periods from the list below and discuss the relationships between the periods. You should discuss how one period revived or continued the style and characteristics of the other period or how one period originated in reaction to the other period.   The following is a list of historical art periods you can choose from: •  Classical •  Middle ages •  Renaissance •  Mannerism •  Baroque •  Rococo •  Neoclassical •  Romanticism •  Realism •  Impressionism •  Post impressionism •  Cubism •  Dadaism •  Geometric abstraction •  Pop art •  Surrealism •  Harlem Renaissance   Task:   A.  Choose two art periods from the list above and write an essay (suggested length of 3–5 pages) in which you do the following: 1.  Describe the earlier historical art period, characteristics...

Words: 463 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Evolution of Architecture

...BEAUX ARTS A very rich, lavish and heavily ornamented classical style taught at L'Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris in the 19th century The term "Beaux Arts" is the approximate English equivalent of "Fine Arts." The style was popularized during the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. One outgrowth of the Expo was the reform movement advocated by Daniel Burnham, the City Beautiful Movement. Very influential in the US in that many of the leading late 19th century architects had been trained at Ecole des Beaux Arts, e.g., Richard Morris Hunt (the first American to study there) , H. H. Richardson (the second American to study there, but who chose to develop his own style, "Richardsonian Romanesque") and Charles McKim, More than any other style (except perhaps the Chateauesque), the Beaux Arts expressed the taste and values of America's industrial barons at the turn of the century. In those pre-income tax days, great fortunes were proudly displayed in increasingly ornate and expensive houses. Broadly speaking, the term "Beaux Arts" refers to the American Renaissance period from about 1890 to 1920 and encompasses the French Renaissance, Italian Renaissance, and Neoclassical Revivals. In Buffalo, the movement was featured at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901. Features: * Symmetrical facade * Roofs: flat, low-pitched; mansard if modeled after French Renaissance Revival * Wall surfaces with decorative garlands, floral patterns, or cartouches dripping with...

Words: 1674 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Pablo Picasso

...PABLO PICASSO PAULA SCOTT ASHFORD UNIVERSITY ART 101 ELIA HAGGAR 03/26/2012 The Art of the early 20th century was reshaped by Pablo Picasso, because the 20th century was years of rich artistic exploration and great productivity. Picasso was born October 25, 1881 in Malaga, Spain son to professor of drawing José Ruiz Blasco and Maria Picasso Lopez. Instead of taking his father’s name he took his mothers, he became one of the greatest and most influential artist of the 20th century and creator (with George Braque) of Cubism. Picasso fell ill in the spring of 1898 and spent most of the remaining year convalescing in the Catalan village of Horta de Ebro in the company of his Barcelona friend Manuel Pallars. When Picasso returned to Barcelona in early 1899, he was a changed man; he had put on weight, he had learned to live on his own in the open countryside, he spoke Catalan, and most importantantly he had made the decision to break with his art school training and to reject his family’s plans for his future. In his work he was a painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramist and stage designer, Picasso was considered radical in his work, after a long career he died April 8, 1973 in Mougins. Most of his work remains, for 80 of his 91 years Picasso devoted himself to an artistic production that...

Words: 2800 - Pages: 12

Free Essay

Intramuros

...HUMANITIES 1 (RESEARCH PAPER) HISTORY OF PAINTINGS AND ARTISTS IN THE WORLD ADRIAN M SITCHON PROF. PEREZ 4TH YEAR/BS.HRM/NS (SUBMITTED BY) TABLE OF CONTENT INTRODUCTION HISTORY BODY * EASTERN PAINTING * WESTERN PAINTING * 20th-CENTURY MODERN * AND CONTEMPORARY DEFINITION OF TERMS * FAMOUS PAINTERS * AND BIOGRAPHY * Paintings of famous painters CONCLUSION RECOMMENDATION REFERENCE INTRODUCTION: Painting can be done in a variety of media. For example, Oils, Watercolour, Acrylics, Gouache and Tempera. Paints are made from a pigment, and a binder. Binder is relatively cheap, while pigment is much more expensive. Pigments are a colored powder, made from organic or inorganic materials. (This is different than a colorant, which dyes or stains a color.) All paints use the same basic pigments, but the binder changes. The binder for acrylics dries quickly and the paint is more like a plastic than oils which have an oil based binder and dry slowly. Oil Paints are often built up in layers or glazes. The other paints---Watercolour, Acrylics, Gouache, and Tempera---are water-based, meaning the paint can be diluted with water and clean-up can be done with soap and water. Oil paints, on the other hand, require paint thinner to clean brushes. The number and variety of painting techniques is endless. Besides quality of paint, factors affecting color quality include: paint opacity, glossiness of painting surface...

Words: 4942 - Pages: 20

Free Essay

Art Genre Paper

...Art Genre Paper Peaches University of Phoenix March 23, 2009 MMus   Abstract Expressionism Genre art evolved from the Dutch Baroque painters in the 17th century. The term “genre” generally refers to the pictorial representations in various media types that represent events of daily living. Such representations can be people, places, activities, parties, a building’s interior or a scenic outdoor setting. These scenes can be realistic, imagined, or even romanticized by the artist. This paper will examine abstract expressionism’s historical development and evolution of style, characteristics of the genre, influential styles or its influence on other styles, the influence of styles on three different visual or performing arts, and any significant contributions to the development and evolution of this style. Historical Development and Evolution of Style Abstract expressionism was developed in the context of diversity and an overlapping of sources and whose major contributors came from the 1930s. During this time “The Great Depression” had begun to yield two different art movements: Regionalism and Social Realism but neither of these appealed to this group of artists. This group was seeking significant content in their work. Having broken away from accepted conventions in both technique and subject matter, these artists used work that was monumentally scaled and reared reflections of their individual psyches. Valuing spontaneity and improvisation their style...

Words: 1950 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Dadaism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism

...DADAISM * Dadaism is a cultural movement that began in Zurich, Switzerland, during World War I and peaked from 1916 to 1922. It was shared by independent groups in New York, Berlin, Paris and elsewhere. * The movement was a protest against the barbarism of the War; works of anti-art that deliberately defied reason. * Dadaism primarily involved visual arts, literature, poetry, theatre, and graphic design. Its purpose was to ridicule what its participants considered to be the meaninglessness of the modern world. In addition to being anti-war, dada was also anti-bourgeois and anarchistic in nature. According to its proponents, Dada was not art; it was anti-art. For everything that art stood for, Dada was to represent the opposite. Where art was concerned with aesthetics, Dada ignored them. If art is to have at least an implicit or latent message, Dada strives to have no meaning. Interpretation of Dada is dependent entirely on the viewer. If art is to appeal to sensibilities, Dada offends. Perhaps it is then ironic that Dada is an influential movement in Modern art. Dada became a commentary on art and the world, thus becoming art itself.” * The Dadaists channelled their revulsion at World War I into an indictment of the nationalist and materialist values that had brought it about. They were united not by a common style but by a rejection of conventions in art and thought, seeking through their unorthodox techniques, performances and provocations to shock society...

Words: 3548 - Pages: 15

Free Essay

Estadyguade

...Study Guide to Accompany Meggs’ History of Graphic Design Fourth Edition Prepared by Susan Merritt Professor and Head of Graphic Design School of Art, Design, and Art History San Diego State University (SDSU) With assistance from Chris McCampbell and Jenny Yoshida John Wiley & Sons, Inc. i DISCLAIMER The information in this book has been derived and extracted from a multitude of sources including building codes, fire codes, industry codes and standards, manufacturer’s literature, engineering reference works, and personal professional experience. It is presented in good faith. Although the authors and the publisher have made every reasonable effort to make the information presented accurate and authoritative, they do not warrant, and assume no liability for, its accuracy or completeness or fitness for any specific purpose. The information is intended primarily as a learning and teaching aid, and not as a final source of information for the design of building systems by design professionals. It is the responsibility of users to apply their professional knowledge in the application of the information presented in this book, and to consult original sources for current and detailed information as needed, for actual design situations. This book is printed on acid-free paper. Copyright © 2006 by John Wiley and Sons. All rights reserved Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey Published simultaneously in Canada No part of this publication may be reproduced...

Words: 54497 - Pages: 218

Free Essay

Humanities

...MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION This module provides an overview on the subject of art appreciation for those entirely new to the subject. This is a complex topic to deal with and it is impossible to have a truly comprehensive discussion on the topic in such a brief essay. The student is advised to consult more advanced texts to gain further understanding of how to appreciate art more fully. HUMANITIES: What is it? • The term Humanities comes from the Latin word, “humanitas” • It generally refers to art, literature, music, architecture, dance and the theatre—in which human subjectivity is emphasized and individual expressiveness is dramatized. HOW IMPORTANT IS HUMANITIES • The fields of knowledge and study falling under humanities are dedicated to the pursuit of discovering and understanding the nature of man. • The humanities deal with man as a being of purpose, of values, loves, hates, ideas and sometimes as seer or prophet with divine inspiration. • The humanities aim at educating. THE ARTS: What is it? • The word “art” usually refers to the so-called “fine arts” (e.g. pictorial, plastic, and building)– and to the so-called “minor arts” (everyday, useful, applied, and decorative arts) • The word “art” is derived from arti, which denotes craftsmanship, skill, mastery of form, inventiveness. • Art serves as a technical and creative record of human needs and achievements. The word 'art' is often used in our daily lives. However, when...

Words: 11870 - Pages: 48

Premium Essay

Ladtecx

...You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Many high-level positions in companies are filled by men even though the workforce in many developed countries is more than 50 per cent female. Companies should be required to allocate a certain percentage of these positions to women. To what extent do you agree? Write at least 250 words. Model answer In many countries these days, females make up over 50 per cent of the workforce, and increasingly highly skilled women are taking managerial positions. However, it is still a fact that high positions such as CEO posts are still dominated by men. Although this is not desirable, I do not personally believe that imposed quotas are the solution. Firstly, I believe companies have a right to choose the best person for the job, whatever their gender, in order to contribute to the success of the business. Forcing companies to hire, promote and appoint women could negatively affect business in the short term and even the long term. Secondly, to my mind the solution to this problem should be solved outside the workplace. Girls need to be encouraged to take more male-dominated subjects at school and later at university, and to aspire to do well in their careers. Girls and boys also need to be taught equality from an early age. This education can take place in schools and career programmes and in the home. To those who argue that quotas are a good way to initiate this change, I would like to point out that artificially imposing rules has not always...

Words: 10459 - Pages: 42