Cubism

art history · modern art · geometry · Paris

Broke art rules. Instead of painting objects the way they actually look, Cubist artists showed many sides of something at the same time, like looking at a person from the front, side, and back all in one picture.

Started in Paris. Cubism began in early 1900s Paris when artists wanted to show that painting could be as creative and thoughtful as any other kind of thinking.

Made with shapes. Artists used cubes, triangles, and other geometric shapes to build up their paintings instead of drawing smooth, realistic lines.

Changed everything. Cubism didn't just change painting, it inspired new ideas in music, dancing, writing, and building design all around the world.

Multiple viewpoints. The style showed what something really looked like by showing it from many different angles and perspectives all at the same time on the same canvas.