The emergence of cubism dates back to 1906-1907. This trend has developed and originated mainly in France (prominent representatives are P. Picasso, H. Griss and J. Braque), as well as in some other countries.
What is cubism?
We will try to answer this question. Cubism is a special artistic direction whose language is based on the deformation of objects, their decomposition into geometric planes, and a shift in form.
The main idea on which it was built was an attempt to express all the complexity, diversity of reality with the help of simple spatial models and forms of phenomena and things. The emergence of this trend has changed many established principles and aesthetic ideas in European painting. Representatives of Cubism broke with "optical realism", abandoning nature as an object of fine art, from perspective and chiaroscuro as the only means of artistic expression.
Pablo Picasso
For this painter throughout his career he was characterized by work in several styles at the same time. Picasso alternately resorted to completely opposite ways of expressing his attitude.
In his work you can find both cubist painting, bordering on abstract art, and realism. Sometimes in his search, he was so far removed from the traditional classical fine art that his return to the path of realistic creativity seemed unthinkable. However, the artist created stunning portraits and still lifes in the style of cubism. These were realistic works written in an inimitable, individual manner. The traditional artistic means used by the author served to solve modern problems. One of the first paintings painted in the style of Cubism is the painting "Avignon Maidens" by P. Picasso. This work of art is notable for its unusual grotesqueness: it depicts coarse figures without elements of chiaroscuro and perspective, presented as a combination of spread out volumes on a plane.
Characteristics
The French critic L. Vosel first used the term “cubist” in 1908 as the mocking name of artists depicting reality using regular geometric volumetric figures (cylinder, cone, cube, ball). Such creativity contained a challenge to the traditions of realistic art. Cubism-style paintings were distinguished by a tendency to asceticism of color, to tangible, simple forms and elementary motifs (for example, utensils, wood or a house). This feature is most clearly manifested in his early work in the "Cezanne" period (1907-1909). Artist P. Cezanne emphasizes the sustainability and objectivity of the world; the faceted volumes, which he uses as an image transfer tool, form a semblance of relief, and the colors highlight certain faces of objects, while strengthening and crushing the volume. The next stage in the development of cubism is the "analytical" (1910-1912). The object is divided into small parts, easily separable from each other, and its shape seems to be spread out on the canvas. The last, “synthetic” stage (1912-1914) is more decorative, the paintings become colorful flat panels, some textured elements appear - volumetric designs, stickers (collages), powders ... At the same time, cubist sculpture is also emerging. Picasso and Braque often included certain letters or words in their canvases. These inscriptions, as a rule, did not correspond to the content, but helped visitors to the exhibitions to approximately understand the artist’s intention.
Viewers reaction
The public regarded the work of the Cubists with irony, sometimes even giving them unflattering epithets and ridicule. Tough criticism was published in the press, sometimes by its nature approaching a public scandal. Spectators who appeared at the exhibition of cubist paintings experienced feelings that can be compared with the feelings of a person who was going on a pleasant journey, but who instead received an invitation to take part in laying new paths.
This reaction confirmed that the transition to this direction took place rapidly, despite the long preparatory period during which the Moscow audience would have to significantly expand their horizons. Nevertheless, cubism itself, paintings written in this style, liked a certain part of the audience and found support from patrons.
The influence of cubism on art
This direction greatly influenced the development of creative thought. Cubism in art reflected the new tendencies of life in all its multifacetedness and inconsistency: the desire for democratization - recognition of primitivism, rejection of the individual, private, chamber; faith in science - the desire to create a "grammar of art", the search for objective methods.
Today, every open-minded person, admiring the work of the Impressionists, clearly distinguishes the conventions of the colors that are familiar to us. And at the time of its origin, it seemed to everyone that Cubism was a real revolution in art. It is this area that analyzes all existing components of painting. Image form, color and linear perspectives, volumes become arbitrary.
Cubism in Russia
In the era preceding the formation of cubism, in our country, as in France, increased interest in folk, traditional art. At this time, young Russian artists were characterized not only by their interest in "primitive" art (including African), but also by their longing for their firm immutability, architectural composition, as well as their belief in the well-known regularity and mathematics of rhythmic experiences.
In the work of many Russian artists, cubism occupies a certain place (these are Chagall, Lentulov, Arkhipenko, Altman and others). However, the central figure, of course, is Kazimir Malevich. His pedagogical activity and creativity, as well as theoretical work, had a huge impact on the formation of a whole direction.
"Black square"
It may seem that there is nothing easier than to draw a black square on a white background. Probably any person can depict this. But here’s the riddle: this famous painting by the Russian artist Malevich still attracts the attention of researchers and art lovers, although it was created at the beginning of the last century. As something mysterious, as a myth, as a symbol of the Russian avant-garde ...
They say that the artist, writing "Black Square", did not understand what he had done, and for a long time could neither eat nor sleep. In fact, the hard work was done to make this picture come to light. After all, when you look at it, the lower layers become visible under the cracks - green, pink, apparently, there was a certain color composition, but the author considered it to be invalid and wrote a black square on top of it. This work of art was designed in the style of cubism. Malevich’s paintings were diverse, but he himself believed that it was Black Square that was the pinnacle of his creative activity.