Cubism

Cubism is an art movement that was made popular in the early twentieth century by artists like Pablo Picasso and George Braque. Images created during this era were often abstract and reflected an effort to deconstruct the world in which the artist lived. Among the most famous paintings of this movement is Picasso’s "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," a clear assertion of the movement’s notion that art need not necessarily reflect nature.

An excellent way to infuse a lesson on early twentieth century history with some art history is to have students conduct an in-depth analysis of Picasso’s "Guernica." This well-known work of art was painted in 1937 as a strong anti-war statement. It turned out to be both timely and prophetic as Europe was on the brink of World War II. Students should discuss the symbolism inherent in the painting as well as the artist’s style in terms of what he chose to represent and how he did so abstractly. Although "Guernica" was painted quite late in the Cubist movement, it can be examined as a culmination of what the Cubists hoped to achieve and how it served as a segue into Expressionism.

The ideals and messages of Cubism were diametrically opposed to those of the preceding art movement, Impressionism. Comparing and contrasting the art of these eras will help students to understand the dramatic shifts that took place culturally in Europe at the turn of the century. Compare, for example, the work of Claude Monet with that of Pablo Picasso. Students should consider whether there are any similarities in terms of style, palette and subject matter. This can be illustrated by creating a timeline that includes social and political events as well as changes in the art world.

Cubism Lessons and Activity:

Cubism With Cut Paper Collage

After viewing the work of the pioneers of Cubism, Pablo Picasso and George Braque, students create an original Cubist collage in the style of Pablo Picasso using cut paper. Students gain a clearer understanding of abstract art and the rationale behind it through this activity.

Cubist Self-Portrait

Once students are familiar with examples of the art of Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris and George Braque, students create a self-portrait in the Cubist style. Examples they use as a reference point include Picasso’s "Guernica" and "Three Musicians," Juan Gris’ "The Coffee Mill" and Georges Braque’s "Woman With a Guitar."

Shattered Values

In this lesson, students will “shatter” the reality of an image of their choosing. They work with contour lines in an effort to generate more shapes than existed in the original image. Students include positive and negative spaces as well in their final product which reflects the Cubist style.