Cubism  

Cubism is an early 20th-century modern art movement, propelled by French artists Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso and Juan Gris. The term itself was derived by the words “bizarres cubiques” (bizarre cubes) which art critic Louis Vauxcelles used to describe one of Braque’s paintings in 1908.

In Cubism, three-dimensional objects are transformed into a flat, geometric pattern of facets and cubes. It was a revolutionary concept - to attempt to capture all the different sides, or aspects of one image at the same time. Essentially, in Cubist art the basic elements of an object are broken down, examined and cobbled back together to form an abstract, fragmented construct.

The term “Cubist” has been used to describe not just paintings but also sculpture, collage, textiles and even architecture (Czech Cubism). The movement had a big impact on European art and sculpture of the 1900s, and its influence can still be seen in the works of artists today. This PathFinder serves as a guide to help you locate resources on Cubist art available at National Library Board libraries as well as on the Internet.

Compiled by Alicia Yeo. For further assistance, please ask the staff at the Information Counter or email us at ref@nlb.gov.sg

Alicia Yeo Links: Profile & Guides Subjects: Singapore and Southeast Asian art, design.