Cubism was one of the most revolutionary art movements of the 20th century.
Instead of trying to paint objects from one fixed viewpoint, Cubist artists began breaking forms apart and showing them from multiple angles at once.
A face might be seen from the front and side simultaneously.
A guitar might be broken into overlapping planes.
A table might tilt in several directions.
Objects no longer had to look solid and realistic.
Instead, artists asked:
“What if I show more than one way of seeing at the same time?”
Some of the most famous Cubist artists include Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Juan Gris, Fernand Léger, Robert Delaunay, and Sonia Delaunay.
Cubism changed the way artists thought about:
- perspective
- shape
- space
- form
- representation
and helped open the door to much of modern abstract art.
In this guide, we’ll explore the Cubist movement, its historical background, characteristics, famous Cubist artists and paintings, and picture study suggestions you can use with children or students.
What Was Cubism?
Cubism was an early 20th-century art movement developed primarily by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.
The movement began around 1907 and transformed the way artists represented objects.
For centuries, Western artists had generally used perspective to create the illusion that a painting was like looking through a window.
Objects appeared:
- solid
- three-dimensional
- arranged in believable space
- viewed from one position
Cubism challenged all of that.
Cubist artists broke objects into:
- planes
- angles
- geometric forms
- overlapping shapes
They often showed several viewpoints at once.
Imagine holding a coffee cup.
From the front, you see the cup’s body.
From the side, you see the handle.
From above, you see the circular opening.
A traditional painter might choose one viewpoint.
A Cubist artist might combine all three in the same image.
Cubism was not simply about making things look strange.
It was asking a deeper question:
Do we really experience objects from only one viewpoint?
When Was the Cubist Period?
Cubism developed primarily between approximately 1907 and 1914, although its influence continued for decades.
The movement is generally divided into two major phases.
Early Cubism (c. 1907–1909)
Picasso and Braque began simplifying forms and experimenting with geometric structure.
Analytic Cubism (c. 1909–1912)
Objects were broken into increasingly complex planes and fragments.
Colors became more limited.
Synthetic Cubism (c. 1912–1914)
Artists began simplifying forms again and introduced:
- brighter colors
- collage
- newspaper
- wallpaper
- printed materials
World War I disrupted the close collaboration between Picasso and Braque, but Cubism continued influencing artists around the world.
Historical Background and Timeline of Cubism
Cubism developed from several important artistic influences.
Late 1800s: Cézanne Simplifies Nature
Paul Cézanne became increasingly interested in the underlying structure of nature.
He simplified:
- mountains
- trees
- houses
- fruit
into geometric forms.
His work became enormously important to younger artists.
Cézanne famously encouraged artists to think of nature through forms such as:
- cylinders
- spheres
- cones
Picasso and Braque studied his work closely.
1906: Cézanne Dies
Cézanne’s death was followed by major exhibitions of his work.
Young artists in Paris saw his paintings and became increasingly interested in structure.
1907: Picasso Paints Les Demoiselles d’Avignon
Picasso created a radical painting featuring five figures.
The bodies and faces are sharply simplified and fractured.
The painting reflected several influences, including:
- Cézanne
- Iberian sculpture
- African masks and sculpture
Today, the work is often considered one of the major turning points leading toward Cubism.
Because it contains nudity, it should be previewed before using with younger students.
1908: Braque Paints at L’Estaque
Georges Braque created landscapes with simplified buildings and geometric shapes.
Critic Louis Vauxcelles described the forms as resembling:
“little cubes.”
The term Cubism eventually developed from this description.
1909–1912: Analytic Cubism Develops
Picasso and Braque worked closely together.
They increasingly broke objects into small intersecting planes.
Common subjects included:
- guitars
- violins
- bottles
- glasses
- newspapers
- tables
1912: Collage Appears
Picasso and Braque began incorporating real materials into artworks.
They used:
- newspaper
- wallpaper
- printed paper
- labels
This became known as collage.
1912–1914: Synthetic Cubism
Shapes became larger and easier to recognize.
Color often became brighter.
Artists combined painting, drawing, and pasted materials.
1914: World War I Begins
Braque and other artists entered military service.
The intense collaboration between Picasso and Braque ended.
Cubism, however, had already spread internationally.
Characteristics of Cubist Art
Cubism is one of the easiest modern movements to recognize once you know what to look for.
1. Multiple Viewpoints
Cubist artists often show objects from several directions at once.
You might see:
- front
- side
- top
combined within one image.
This breaks the traditional idea of a single fixed viewpoint.
2. Geometric Shapes
Objects are often simplified into:
- cubes
- cylinders
- triangles
- rectangles
- angular planes
This geometric structure gives Cubism its distinctive appearance.
3. Fragmentation
Forms may appear broken apart.
A face, guitar, bottle, or table can seem divided into pieces.
These fragments are then rearranged across the canvas.
4. Flattened Space
Traditional depth is reduced.
Foreground and background may blend together.
Objects may seem both flat and three-dimensional at the same time.
5. Overlapping Planes
Shapes overlap and intersect.
One surface may seem to move through another.
This creates complicated visual space.
6. Limited Color in Analytic Cubism
Analytic Cubist paintings often use subdued colors such as:
- brown
- gray
- ochre
- muted green
- black
By limiting color, artists could focus attention on:
- shape
- structure
- space
7. Brighter Color in Synthetic Cubism
Synthetic Cubism often introduced stronger colors.
Forms also became larger and easier to recognize.
8. Everyday Objects
Cubists frequently painted:
- guitars
- violins
- bottles
- glasses
- newspapers
- fruit
- pipes
These ordinary objects were perfect for experimenting with shape.
9. Letters and Words
Fragments of:
- newspaper headlines
- labels
- typography
sometimes appear directly in Cubist compositions.
10. Collage
Cubists helped establish collage as a serious artistic technique.
Real materials could become part of an artwork.
This radically expanded the definition of painting.
Analytic Cubism
Analytic Cubism developed primarily between approximately 1909 and 1912.
The word “analytic” refers to the way artists seemed to analyze or break apart objects.
Imagine taking a guitar and visually dismantling it.
You might separate:
- curves
- strings
- sound hole
- neck
into individual shapes.
Then rearrange them into one composition.
Analytic Cubist paintings often feature:
- many small planes
- limited color
- overlapping shapes
- fragmented forms
Objects can be difficult to recognize.
The artist is less interested in making an easy-to-read picture and more interested in exploring how form and space work.
Synthetic Cubism
Around 1912, Cubism began changing.
Artists simplified their compositions.
Forms became:
- larger
- flatter
- more colorful
They also began using collage.
This phase is known as Synthetic Cubism.
Instead of breaking objects apart into tiny pieces, artists began building images from larger shapes.
The word “synthetic” suggests bringing elements together.
A guitar might be created from:
- painted shapes
- paper
- newspaper
- drawn lines
Synthetic Cubism often feels more decorative and playful than Analytic Cubism.
Cubism and Collage
Collage became one of Cubism’s greatest innovations.
Before this period, fine art paintings were generally made from:
- paint
- canvas
- traditional drawing materials
Cubist artists challenged that idea.
They glued real materials onto artworks.
These might include:
- newspaper
- wallpaper
- printed labels
- sheet music
- patterned paper
Suddenly, part of the real world could enter the artwork.
This raised fascinating questions.
If a newspaper is glued onto a painting of a table, is it:
- newspaper?
- part of the table?
- texture?
- shape?
- art?
Cubism helped expand what artists believed an artwork could be made from.
African Art and Cubism
African sculpture and masks had an important influence on early Cubism, especially Picasso’s work around 1907.
European artists were fascinated by the way many African works simplified or transformed human features.
Instead of trying to reproduce a face naturalistically, a sculpture might emphasize:
- shape
- symmetry
- geometric structure
- expressive features
However, this influence should be taught carefully.
European artists often encountered African art through colonial collections and removed these objects from their original:
- cultural
- religious
- ceremonial
- historical
contexts.
When studying Cubism with older children, this offers a valuable opportunity to acknowledge both the artistic influence and the colonial setting in which European artists encountered many African works.
Famous Artists of the Cubist Movement
Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)
Pablo Picasso became one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
His career included many different periods and styles.
Together with Georges Braque, he helped develop Cubism.
Famous Cubist works include:
- Girl with a Mandolin
- Ma Jolie
- Three Musicians
- Still Life with Chair Caning
- numerous Cubist portraits and still lifes
Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon is especially important to the development of Cubism but contains nudity.
Georges Braque (1882–1963)
Georges Braque worked extremely closely with Picasso during the development of Cubism.
Their paintings from around 1909–1912 can sometimes be difficult to distinguish.
Braque frequently painted:
- musical instruments
- bottles
- tables
- newspapers
Famous works include:
- Houses at L’Estaque
- Violin and Palette
- The Portuguese
- Fruit Dish and Glass
Braque also played a major role in developing collage.
Juan Gris (1887–1927)
Spanish artist Juan Gris developed a highly organized and colorful form of Cubism.
His paintings often appear clearer and more structured than the dense Analytic Cubist works of Picasso and Braque.
Famous works include:
- Portrait of Picasso
- The Sunblind
- Still Life with Checked Tablecloth
- The Breakfast
Gris is especially useful for picture study because his Cubist forms are often easier for children to identify.
Fernand Léger (1881–1955)
Fernand Léger developed a distinctive style influenced by Cubism.
He simplified people and machines into:
- cylinders
- tubes
- mechanical forms
His work reflects the growing modern world of:
- machines
- cities
- technology
Famous works include:
- The City
- Three Women
- The Mechanic
Robert Delaunay (1885–1941)
Robert Delaunay developed a colorful form of Cubism sometimes called Orphism.
He became especially interested in:
- circles
- movement
- color relationships
- modern architecture
Famous works include his Eiffel Tower series and Simultaneous Windows paintings.
Sonia Delaunay (1885–1979)
Sonia Delaunay combined Cubist ideas with vibrant color and decorative design.
She worked across:
- painting
- textiles
- clothing
- book design
- interiors
Her circular, rhythmic compositions are excellent for studying color and abstraction.
Famous Cubist Paintings
Houses at L’Estaque — Georges Braque
Buildings and trees are simplified into geometric forms.
Look for:
- blocks
- planes
- reduced detail
- overlapping shapes
The painting shows how Braque was beginning to turn landscape into structure.
Girl with a Mandolin — Pablo Picasso
A figure holding a musical instrument has been broken into angular planes.
Look for:
- fragmented body
- geometric shapes
- muted colors
- overlapping forms
The figure remains recognizable even though the body has been greatly simplified.
Three Musicians — Pablo Picasso
Three figures sit beside one another playing music.
The work belongs to Synthetic Cubism.
Look for:
- large flat shapes
- strong color
- overlapping forms
- collage-like appearance
It is an excellent Cubist work for children because the subjects are relatively easy to identify.
Portrait of Picasso — Juan Gris
Gris breaks Picasso’s face and body into geometric shapes.
Unlike some Analytic Cubist paintings, the image remains relatively clear.
Look for:
- triangles
- rectangles
- overlapping planes
- strong outlines
The Portuguese — Georges Braque
A musician is nearly hidden inside a dense network of planes.
Letters and numbers also appear in the composition.
This is a classic example of Analytic Cubism.
Cubism vs. Cézanne
Cézanne was not a Cubist.
He was a Post-Impressionist.
But his work strongly influenced Cubism.
Cézanne
Cézanne simplified nature into:
- spheres
- cylinders
- cones
- planes
Cubism
Picasso and Braque pushed these ideas farther.
They:
- fractured forms
- combined viewpoints
- flattened space
- rearranged shapes
A useful way to think about the relationship:
Cézanne simplified forms.
Cubism took them apart.
Cubism vs. Fauvism
Cubism and Fauvism developed almost side by side.
But they focused on very different problems.
Fauvism
Fauvism emphasized:
- intense color
- expressive color
- decorative pattern
- freedom
Cubism
Cubism emphasized:
- shape
- structure
- viewpoint
- geometric form
- space
Fauvism asks:
“What can color do?”
Cubism asks:
“What can shape and viewpoint do?”
Cubism vs. Expressionism
Expressionism and Cubism also developed around the same period.
Expressionism
Expressionism focuses strongly on:
- emotion
- inner experience
- distortion
- psychological intensity
Cubism
Cubism focuses more strongly on:
- structure
- perspective
- geometry
- multiple viewpoints
Expressionists distort reality to communicate feeling.
Cubists reorganize reality to investigate how we see it.
Cubist Picture Study Suggestions
Cubism can be challenging at first, but it becomes surprisingly engaging when children begin looking for recognizable fragments.
Pablo Picasso Picture Study
Try:
- Three Musicians
- Girl with a Mandolin
- Still Life with Chair Caning
- one Cubist guitar
- one Cubist still life
- one later Cubist portrait
Look for:
- instruments
- faces
- geometric shapes
- overlapping planes
- collage
Preview Picasso’s works individually because some contain nudity or mature subjects.
Georges Braque Picture Study
Try:
- Houses at L’Estaque
- Violin and Palette
- Fruit Dish and Glass
- The Portuguese
- one Cubist still life
- one collage
Look for:
- guitars
- violins
- letters
- newspaper
- fragments
Juan Gris Picture Study
Try:
- Portrait of Picasso
- The Sunblind
- Still Life with Checked Tablecloth
- The Breakfast
- one guitar still life
- one collage
Look for:
- recognizable objects
- strong geometric structure
- bright color
- overlapping planes
Juan Gris is one of the best Cubist artists for younger students.
Robert and Sonia Delaunay Study
Try:
- one Eiffel Tower painting
- Simultaneous Windows
- one circular composition by Robert Delaunay
- one Sonia Delaunay color study
- one textile design
- one geometric abstraction
Look for:
- circles
- rhythm
- movement
- color
- overlapping shapes
How to Do a Simple Cubism Picture Study
Choose one painting and allow your child to study it quietly for several minutes.
Then remove the image.
Ask:
“What do you remember?”
Allow your child to narrate.
Then look again.
You might ask:
- What objects can you identify?
- Can you find a face?
- Can you find a musical instrument?
- Which geometric shapes do you see?
- Does anything look like it is shown from more than one direction?
- Where do shapes overlap?
- Which part looks flat?
- Which part looks three-dimensional?
- Are there letters or words?
- What do you think the artist broke apart and rearranged?
With Cubism, picture study can almost become a visual detective game.
How to Recognize Cubist Art
Look for these clues.
Look for geometric shapes.
Are objects broken into:
- triangles
- squares
- rectangles
- angular planes?
Look for multiple viewpoints.
Can you see more than one side of an object?
Look for fragmentation. Do figures or objects appear broken apart?
Look for overlapping planes. Do shapes seem to pass through one another?
Look for flattened space. Is it difficult to tell where foreground ends and background begins?
Look for ordinary objects. Guitars, bottles, newspapers, and fruit appear frequently.
Look for muted colors. If the work is Analytic Cubism, it may use browns and grays.
Look for collage. If newspaper, wallpaper, or patterned paper appears, you may be looking at Synthetic Cubism.
Easy Cubism Art Activities for Students
Draw One Object from Several Viewpoints
Choose a simple object such as:
- mug
- shoe
- guitar
- toy
Draw it:
- from the front
- from the side
- from above
Then combine all three drawings into one composition.
Create a Cubist Portrait
Draw a face.
Show:
- one eye from the front
- one eye from the side
- nose from another angle
Break the face into geometric shapes.
Make a Cubist Still Life
Arrange:
- bottle
- fruit
- cup
- book
Draw them using overlapping geometric forms.
Create a Synthetic Cubist Collage
Cut:
- newspaper
- patterned paper
- colored paper
- printed letters
into shapes.
Use them to build:
- guitar
- vase
- table
- face
Make a Geometric Guitar
Draw a guitar.
Then break it into:
- circles
- rectangles
- triangles
- curved shapes
Rearrange the pieces slightly.
Try an Analytic Cubist Palette
Use only:
- brown
- gray
- black
- cream
- ochre
Create a fragmented still life.
Compare Fauvism and Cubism
Place a Matisse painting beside a Braque or Picasso.
Ask:
- Which artist cares more about color?
- Which cares more about shape?
- Which painting feels flatter?
- Which uses more geometric forms?
Frequently Asked Questions About Cubism
What is Cubism?
Cubism was an early 20th-century art movement that broke objects into geometric shapes and often showed multiple viewpoints simultaneously.
When was Cubism?
Cubism developed primarily between approximately 1907 and 1914.
Where did Cubism begin?
Cubism developed mainly in Paris, France.
Who invented Cubism?
Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque are generally considered the principal founders of Cubism.
Why is it called Cubism?
The name developed after critic Louis Vauxcelles described Braque’s geometric landscapes using language related to cubes.
What are the main characteristics of Cubism?
Important characteristics include:
- multiple viewpoints
- geometric shapes
- fragmentation
- flattened space
- overlapping planes
- simplified objects
- collage
- limited color in Analytic Cubism
What is Analytic Cubism?
Analytic Cubism is the earlier phase of Cubism in which artists broke objects into numerous small geometric planes.
It often uses subdued brown, gray, and ochre colors.
What is Synthetic Cubism?
Synthetic Cubism developed around 1912.
It uses larger shapes, brighter colors, and collage materials such as newspaper and wallpaper.
What is the difference between Analytic and Synthetic Cubism?
Analytic Cubism tends to:
- break things apart
- use small planes
- use muted colors
Synthetic Cubism tends to:
- build things up
- use larger shapes
- use brighter colors
- include collage
A simple memory trick:
Analytic Cubism takes apart.
Synthetic Cubism puts together.
Who were the most famous Cubist artists?
Important Cubist artists include:
- Pablo Picasso
- Georges Braque
- Juan Gris
- Fernand Léger
- Robert Delaunay
- Sonia Delaunay
Was Picasso always a Cubist?
No.
Picasso worked in many styles throughout his long career.
Cubism was only one major period of his work.
Was Cézanne a Cubist?
No.
Cézanne was a Post-Impressionist.
However, his experiments with geometric structure strongly influenced Cubism.
Did Cubism invent collage?
Picasso and Braque were among the first major modern artists to incorporate pasted materials directly into fine-art compositions.
Their experiments helped establish collage as an important modern art technique.
Why did Cubists show several viewpoints at once?
Cubists questioned the idea that an object should always be represented from one fixed viewpoint.
They wanted to represent a fuller experience of seeing and understanding an object.
Why is Cubism important?
Cubism fundamentally challenged traditional:
- perspective
- representation
- space
- form
It influenced countless later developments in:
- abstraction
- sculpture
- architecture
- graphic design
What Cubist artists are best for children to study?
Juan Gris, Sonia Delaunay, Robert Delaunay, and selected Picasso and Braque works are especially useful.
Juan Gris often provides clear recognizable objects.
The Delaunays are wonderful for shape, rhythm, and color.
Picasso’s Three Musicians makes an especially accessible introduction to Cubism for younger students.
Explore Shape and Viewpoint Through Cubism
Cubism asks children to question something we usually take for granted:
What does an object really look like?
Consider a cup.
From the side, the opening may look like an oval.
From above, it looks circular.
From one side, you see the handle.
From another, you may not see it at all.
Which view is the “correct” one?
Cubist artists might answer:
All of them.
Instead of choosing one moment and one viewpoint, they tried to bring several ways of seeing together.
That’s what makes Cubism such an interesting movement to study.
It teaches children that artists do not simply copy objects.
Artists make decisions about:
shape, space, perspective, arrangement, and point of view.
As you study Cubist art, ask:
“How many different viewpoints can you find?”
Then choose one ordinary object and try looking at it from the front, the side, above, and below.
Suddenly, one object becomes many shapes.
And that is exactly the kind of discovery that helped Cubism completely change modern art.
