Cubism was a movement developed 1909-1914 by Picasso and Braque. It is a art form that describes the fragmented image but could convey the perceptual and conceptual aspects of the artist’s practice. Technological advances like X-Rays and radio waves changed the fixed surface of matter and the public perception of reality during the early 20th century. Cubism tried to depict this new, complex viewing of life and develop a visual analysis of reality. They achieved this through using limited color and small brushstrokes influenced by Cezanne. Their work appeared collage like and was an essential step to Abstract art.
The beginning of Cubism was called Analytical Cubism, which then evolved into Synthetic Cubism. During the period of time of Analytical Cubism, which was from 1910-1912, Picasso and Braque’s works were indistinguishable. Like the piece “Bottle and Fish” (1910-12), Analytic cubism shows the breakdown of form. The simplified colors of a monochromatic color scheme (blue, tan, brown, grey, cream, green) were used to not distract the viewer from the primary interest of the form itself. This work emphasizes the difference in texture and presents complex and multiple views of the object.. The piece is dominated by the cubes, which create the look of distortion. The name bottle and fish makes the viewer search for these two elements amidst the cube.
If you look hard enough, you can see a slight portion of a bottle on the left top corner of the painting and a few fish heads spread out between the cubes. The colors are very negative, gray and sad. I personally dislike this piece and most of Cubism. I think it is an interesting comment on the visual aspects of society’s development, but I personally think it is unpleasing to the eye.
-Kasey&Charlotte
takeonlondon 