Is Cubism Abstract Art?

Yes, Cubism is definitely a form of abstract art, but it’s got its own special twist. While it doesn’t completely ditch recognizable subjects like some abstract art does, Cubism takes objects and breaks them down into a bunch of geometric shapes, then puts them back together in a way that looks nothing like real life. It’s like taking a normal painting and putting it through a funky blender. This style of painting and sculpture popped up in the early 1900s and totally changed the game when it came to how artists showed the world around them.

This article is designed for art enthusiasts, students, and anyone curious about the evolution of modern art movements.

Key takeaways

• Cubism is a type of abstract art, but with its own unique approach
• It breaks down objects into geometric shapes and rearranges them
• Cubism revolutionized how artists depicted reality
• Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque were the main guys behind Cubism
• It paved the way for even more experimental art forms

What in the World is Cubism?

Okay, picture this: you’re looking at someone’s face, but instead of seeing it normally, you’re somehow seeing the front, sides, and back all at once. Sounds wild, right? That’s basically what Cubism does. It’s like taking a regular old painting, smashing it to pieces, and then gluing it back together in a totally new and mind-bending way.

Cubist artists loved to break things down into basic shapes. They were all about cubes (duh), cylinders, spheres – you name it. Then they’d take these shapes and piece them back together to create a whole new view of whatever they were painting. It’s like they were saying, “Hey, who needs reality? Let’s mix things up a bit!”

The Birth of Cubism: When Art Got Weird

Cubism didn’t just appear out of thin air. It was more like the rebellious teenager of the art world, showing up to break all the rules that older painting styles had set. Two guys named Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque kicked off this whole art revolution around 1907. I like to imagine them sitting in some hip Parisian café, sipping super strong espresso, when one of them suddenly said, “You know what? Let’s make art that’ll really mess with people’s heads!

These guys were tired of the same old, same old in the art world. They wanted to shake things up, to show that there’s more than one way to see the world. And boy, did they succeed! Their ideas spread like wildfire, influencing artists all over the place and changing the course of art history forever.

Is Cubism Really Abstract? Let’s Break It Down

Now, you might be scratching your head and thinking, “Hold up. I can still kind of tell what some of these Cubist paintings are supposed to be… sometimes. How is that abstract?” Great question! Let’s dive into why Cubism is considered abstract, even if it’s not as out there as some other styles:

1. It’s definitely not realistic: Cubist paintings don’t look anything like photographs or traditional realistic paintings. They’re more like looking at the world through a kaleidoscope or one of those crazy funhouse mirrors at a carnival. Everything’s all jumbled up and rearranged.
2. Multiple viewpoints at once: Cubists love to show different sides of an object all at the same time. It’s like if you could see the front, back, and sides of a person’s head simultaneously. Try doing that in real life – you’d need some serious superpowers!
3. Geometric shapes galore: In Cubism, everything gets broken down into basic geometric shapes. It’s like seeing the world through Lego-tinted glasses. That tree outside your window? In a Cubist painting, it might be a bunch of green cubes and cylinders stacked on top of each other.
4. Flattened space: Cubists weren’t big fans of depth and perspective. They preferred to squish everything onto a flat surface. It’s like they took 3D objects and pressed them into 2D, like a panini in an art sandwich maker.
5. Fragmentation: Cubist artists loved to break things apart and rearrange them. A person’s face might have an eye where their chin should be, or their nose might be floating off to the side. It’s like they put all the features of a face into a hat, shook them up, and then painted whatever they pulled out.

The Great Abstract-O-Meter

To really understand how abstract Cubism is, let’s look at how it measures up against other art styles on our totally made-up but super scientific Abstract-O-Meter:

As you can see, Cubism is pretty high up there on the abstract scale! It’s not quite at the “what am I even looking at?” level of pure abstraction, but it’s definitely in the “whoa, that’s trippy” category.

Famous Cubist Artworks: A Tour Through the Wacky and Wonderful

Want to see some Cubism in action? Let’s take a quick tour through some famous Cubist paintings. Don’t worry, no stuffy museum behavior required here!

“Les Demoiselles d’Avignon” by Pablo Picasso (1907)

Imagine five ladies posing for a painting, but their faces look like they’re wearing weird tribal masks. It’s like a Halloween party gone wrong, but in a strangely cool way. This painting was a shocker when it first appeared – people didn’t know what to make of these angular, distorted figures. It’s considered one of the first steps towards Cubism.

“The Portuguese” by Georges Braque (1911)

Picture a person playing a guitar, but instead of a normal scene, the guitar is broken up and scattered all over the canvas. It’s like a musical jigsaw puzzle that someone spilled coffee on and then tried to put back together. You can kind of make out bits of the instrument and maybe a hand here and there, but good luck figuring out where the musician’s head is!

“Girl with a Mandolin” by Picasso (1910)

This one shows a girl holding an instrument, but she looks like she’s been put through a kaleidoscope and then reassembled by someone who’s never seen a human before. Her body is all angles and planes, and the mandolin blends into her form so you can barely tell where the instrument ends and the girl begins. It’s like a game of “Spot the Mandolin” for art lovers.

“Violin and Candlestick” by Georges Braque (1910)

In this painting, Braque takes a simple still life and turns it into a mind-bending puzzle. The violin and candlestick are broken down into a series of intersecting planes and shapes. It’s like looking at the objects through a shattered mirror, where each piece reflects a different angle. Good luck trying to play that violin!

Why Cubism Matters (Or: Why You Should Care About Wonky Paintings)

At this point, you might be wondering, “Okay, so some guys painted weird pictures with messed-up faces. Why should I care?” Well, let me tell you, Cubism was a total game-changer in the art world. Here’s why it matters:

1. It broke the rules: Cubism showed artists that they didn’t have to stick to traditional ways of painting. It was like someone opened the door and said, “Hey, you can do whatever you want!” This led to all sorts of new and exciting art movements.
2. It changed how we see things: Cubism challenged the idea that art should represent things exactly as they appear. It made people think about different ways of seeing and understanding the world around them.
3. It influenced design: The ideas from Cubism didn’t just stay in paintings. They spread to architecture, fashion, and graphic design. That cool, angular logo on your favorite brand? You might have Cubism to thank for that!
4. It reflected the times: Cubism emerged during a period of rapid change and scientific discovery. The idea of breaking things down into basic components mirrored what was happening in fields like physics and psychology.
5. It’s a brain workout: Looking at Cubist art is like solving a visual puzzle. It makes you think and see things in new ways, which is pretty good exercise for your brain.

Cubism in Everyday Life: Finding the Funky in the Ordinary

Now that you know all about Cubism, you might start seeing it everywhere! Here are some fun ways to bring a little Cubist thinking into your everyday life:

1. Cubist selfies: Next time you’re taking a selfie, try to channel your inner Picasso. Take photos of your face from different angles and mash them together in a photo editing app. Voila! You’ve got a Cubist self-portrait.
2. Doodle like a Cubist: In your next boring meeting or class, try drawing objects around you in a Cubist style. Break that pencil on your desk into a series of rectangles and triangles. Your coworkers or classmates might think you’re a bit weird, but hey, you’re just being artistic!
3. Cubist cooking: Who says food has to look normal? Try arranging your next meal in a Cubist style on the plate. Your spaghetti could be a jumble of geometric shapes, with meatballs scattered in unexpected places. It might not taste any different, but it’ll certainly be a conversation starter!
4. Cubist room décor: Rearrange the furniture in your room in a way that doesn’t make logical sense, but looks cool. Put your lamp on the floor, your chair on the bed, and your books scattered in random piles. It might not be practical, but it’ll definitely give your room a unique vibe.

In the end

Cubism is like the cool, slightly odd cousin of regular abstract art. It’s not afraid to break the rules, mix things up, and show us that there’s more than one way to see the world. So next time you come across a Cubist painting, don’t just scratch your head and walk away. Take a moment to appreciate the rebellious spirit and creativity that went into making it. Try to figure out what you’re looking at – it’s like a game of artistic I Spy!

And who knows? Maybe you’ll be inspired to create your own Cubist masterpiece. Just remember, if anyone says your painting looks weird, you can just say, “It’s not weird, it’s Cubism!” and sound super smart. Now go forth and embrace your inner Picasso!