The Power of Three

Braque, Picasso, and Gris: exploring key concepts of Cubism with its pioneering exponents

Cubism is one of the major movements of Modernism. It was a radical departure from long-established academic approaches and, in more ways than one, took art in exciting new directions. The core concepts that defined the genre grew from the work of three influential painters. Here we will track the early development of the style by taking a glance at a chronological selection of key works by George Braque, Pablo Picasso and Juan Gris…

Georges Braque is a very important artist whose career touches upon, and consolidates, many Modernist styles. His earlier works are considered Fauvist due to the vibrant use of structural colour, strong line and lack of traditional perspective. Like much of the work being produced in the first decade of the Twentieth century, by his fellow French painters like Henri Matisse and André Derain, Braque’s earlier paintings are clearly influenced by the Post- and Neo-Impressionist styles present in the works of Vincent van Gogh… and, just like many of those pioneers, his work was initially misunderstood.