In the early 1900s, an innovative art movement known as abstract cubism changed the way people thought about visual art.
Artists in the movement experimented with using multiple perspectives to create an image, and they also used geometric shapes in their paintings to challenge traditional ways of depicting objects on canvas. While abstract cubism has been described as the most radical and influential art movement of the 20th century, it’s still pretty complicated to understand. This article will help you to understand the basic principles of this groundbreaking art style, so you can appreciate it even more!
The Artists
Pablo Picasso was a Spanish painter and sculptor. In addition to being one of Spain’s best-known artists, he is also among its most influential in terms of modern art. Much of his early work focused on classicizing representations of human figures, often depicted in landscapes. He is especially well known for co-founding Cubism with Georges Braque, as well as for his many provocative paintings of nude women. Abstract Cubism helped pave Picasso’s way to fame and success.
History of Abstract Cubism
Before delving into an overview of abstract cubism, it’s important to explain where it fits into art history. Simply put, abstract cubism emerged as a direct result of an earlier movement known as traditional or naturalistic cubism. This style is characterized by its focus on depicting objects from multiple perspectives simultaneously and was pioneered by Picasso and Georges Braque in France during the early 20th century. Abstract cubism evolved from traditional cubism by eliminating any reference to recognizable forms and replacing them with geometric shapes, colors and patterns. Artists who embraced abstract cubism include Juan Gris, Robert Delaunay and Piet Mondrian.
As you might imagine, abstract cubism isn’t as widely recognized or understood as other styles of art; however, it has influenced countless modern artists and helped pave the way for later movements like minimalism. While many viewers find abstract cubist works to be beautiful in their own right, others may not appreciate them due to their unfamiliarity with geometric abstraction. If you fall into that camp, take a moment to study some examples of abstract cubist art before reading on—you may be surprised by how much they grow on you!
What is Geometric Abstraction? Geometric abstraction is an artistic style that emerged in the mid-20th century and continues to be popular today. It’s characterized by its use of geometric shapes, lines, patterns and colors, as opposed to traditional representations of people or objects.
If you’re familiar with cubist art, you may have noticed that geometric abstraction shares many similarities with abstract cubism; however, there are some key differences between them:
● Abstract cubism was a direct result of traditional cubism—it evolved from it.
● Geometric abstraction is not directly related to any other art movement, although it does share some similarities with minimalism and pop art.
● The most important difference between abstract cubism and geometric abstraction is that abstract cubist works are often recognizable as being inspired by objects or people, whereas geometric abstractions are completely non-representational.
What Are Some Examples of Geometric Abstraction?
If you’re familiar with cubist art, you may be able to think of a few examples of geometric abstraction; however, if you’re not sure what to look for, don’t worry—we can help! Here are some popular examples:
● Piet Mondrian was one of the earliest artists to create truly abstract works in a style we would recognize today as geometric abstraction. His work is known for its use of primary colors and simple shapes, like squares and rectangles, which he arranged into grids or rows.
● Wassily Kandinsky is another famous example of an early 20th century artist who created geometrically-inspired art; however, his work isn’t quite as modern as Mondrian’s because it incorporates more recognizable forms, such as people and trees.
● Mark Rothko is a notable contemporary geometric abstractionist whose works are known for their use of color and simple shapes.
The Elements of Abstraction
In cubism, everything is subject to abstraction. Line, form, color, and value are all treated in a completely abstract way. For example, line can become any length you want—short or long—as long as it conveys your message or helps give you your vision for what you want to express. You can use colors that are harmonious or discordant with one another because both are considered to be valid forms of abstraction when used together. And, finally, you don’t have to stick with just one value; values can change from light to dark or anywhere in between. The only rule is that whatever you choose should help convey your message and/or vision.
Famous Works in Art History
Artists have always wanted to find new ways to make their artwork stand out. Many were inspired by an innovative method of painting called cubism, or abstract cubism. Derived from other artistic styles, including Post-Impressionist and Fauvist, abstract cubism exploded on to art scene in 1913 with Robert Delaunay’s painting A Futurist Portrait. The painting was considered scandalous at first because of its radical concept and bright colors. However, many artists soon followed Delaunay’s lead and started using geometric shapes in their paintings. This became known as abstract cubism. This style of art is still used today as a way for artists to express themselves without using a traditional subject matter such as people or landscapes.
Final Words
While art may seem like a useless subject, many of these visual-art styles are still utilized today. In fact, they’re still used to create commercial and public-service posters. If you want to take your design career to new heights, it may be worth learning about some of these art forms in greater detail! You never know when you’ll need them for work or even just for fun!
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