Famous Cubism Paintings

The art movement Cubism made drastic changes to the international art landscape. It also influenced not only painting but sculputre, modern architecture, and other forms of design.

Cubism began at the start of the 20th century. Artists worked with geometric shapes creating an unusual new and different kind of three-dimensional artworks. The most popular artists ar this time were Pablo Picasso, Paul Cezane, and Georges Braque.

Les Desmoiselles d'Avignon Pablo Picasso

Spanish artist Pablo Picasso was among the greatest painters of the 20th century. This artwork is among his most recognizable artworks in the Cubism style. The painting was originally known as The Brothel of Avignon. It depicts five naked women with faces that appear to be strangely familiar to artwork from Africa. The artist used irregular shapes to portray human form.

Guernica Pablo Picasso

Spanish artist Pablo Picasso like other artists in the 20th century drew inspiration from ever changing world events. Picasso devoted dozens of artworks to the events that transpired during the Spanish Civil War. This painting was completed in 1937 and became one of the most unique and stark dipictions of the war. It depicts various figures affected by the awful fighting and it became one of the artist's masterpieces.

Ma Jolie Pablo Picasso

Spanish artists Pablo Picasso created this painting in 1911. It translated to "my pretty one" and depicts his lover, Marcelle Humbert.

Woman with a Mandolin Georges Braque

French artist Georges Braque started creating paintings in the Cubism style in the early 1900s. He created this artwork in 1910. Braque was interested in artwork featuring subjects and musical instruments. In this painting he combines vertical and horizontal lines to create the figure of a woman who is strumming a mandolin. There are a variety of grey and darker ochres to draw the attention of the viewer to the painting.

Man with a Guitar Georges Braque

French artist Georges Braque was among the most well-known artists in the niche of Analytic Cubism. This artwork is considered to be among the most influential pieces of Cubism done by Braque. The painting was completed in 1932 and depicts a man and his guitar. It is looked at as a masterpiece that plays on the human mind similar to the way a musician would strum a guitar.

Harlequin with Guitar Juan Gris

Spanish artist Juan Gris created an artwork with a harlequin depicting him wearing the traditional checkered costume. This painting was completed in 1917. It is known for the use of sharp, angling linear shapes. This painting is one of the most easily recognized artworks in the Cubism style particularly since Cubist artist chose to use a harlequin or a figure who could be closely compared to a pantomime origination from 16th century theater.

Still Life with Flowers Juan Gris

Spanish artists Juan Gris was regarded as one of the greatest artists in the Cubism style. He had the ability to mend symmetrical shapes and figures with those often in sharp contrast to the outline of his subjects. This painting was completed in 1912 and depicts a glowing and vibrant scen of flowers surrounding a stringed instrument. It features brilliant combination of colors for which the artist became known for during his career.

L'Oiseau bleu Jean Metzinger

French artist Jean Metzinger was able to capture portrayals of reality through the Cubism style. This artwork The Blue Bird was painted on a large canvas. It features varying levels of shaded figures. It incorporated shapes combined on a mathematical level of genius as well as Riemannian geometry.

Teatime Jean Metzinger

French artist Jean Metzinger was well-known for her ability to create some of the most iconic paintings in the Cubism style. Even though this painting combines irregular shapes and angles with the use of shades and soft colors it draws awareness to the nude female figure seen gazing at the viewer casually sipping tea.

Conquest of Air Robert de la Fresnaye

French artist Robert de la Fresnaye created this artwork in 1913 and it became one of the most memorable Cubist artworks. The clouds in the painting are circular spheres while the ground is depicted with sharp triangular qualities.