Georges Braque: The Art of Form Decomposition
Georges Braque, born in Argenteuil on 13 May 1882 and passing away in Paris on 31 August 1963, was an innovative artist who, alongside Pablo Picasso, reshaped the landscape of 20th-century art. The son of a decorator, Braque initially learned the fundamentals of painting at home before working as a decorator in Paris. After being inspired by the Fauves exhibition in 1905, he showcased his work at the Salon des Indépendants in 1907. The following year, while painting in L'Estaque, he created landscapes characterized by "small cubes." His collaboration with Picasso began in autumn 1907, leading to the evolution of Analytical and Synthetic Cubism. By 1914, he had introduced papier collé and produced significant works. Following his injury in 1915, he concentrated on still lifes and became a prominent figure in French art after WWII, famously declaring, "Art is meant to disturb. Science reassures."
Key facts
- Georges Braque was born on 13 May 1882 in Argenteuil and died on 31 August 1963 in Paris.
- He co-founded Cubism with Pablo Picasso.
- Braque first exhibited with the Fauves at the 1905 Salon d'Automne.
- Henri Matisse coined the term 'Cubism' after seeing Braque's 'small cubes' landscapes at L'Estaque in 1908.
- Braque met Picasso in autumn 1907 through Guillaume Apollinaire.
- Braque introduced papier collé and printed letters into Cubist works.
- He was seriously wounded in WWI in 1915, undergoing trepanation.
- After the war, Braque focused on still lifes and became a central figure in French art.
Entities
Artists
- Georges Braque
- Pablo Picasso
- Henri Matisse
- Guillaume Apollinaire
Institutions
- École des Beaux-Arts
- Salon d'Automne
- Salon des Indépendants
- Kahnweiler Gallery
- Artspecialday
Locations
- Argenteuil
- Paris
- Montmartre
- Marseille
- L'Estaque
- Italy
- France