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Art History

Cubism: Ideas and Techniques

By February 26, 2018October 28th, 2024No Comments

The illusion of three-dimensional space

By using techniques such as perspective, focus and tonal gradations you can make things look three-dimensional on a two-dimensional surface. You use focus to make things big and clear when they are close, and small and blurred when they are far away. These techniques create the illusion of space.

Cubist Artists

Ending the illusion of perspective

By using only planes to show different viewpoints at the same time, cubism emphasized the two-dimensional flatness of the canvas.

Analytical cubism often used only muted tones of blacks, greys and ochres.

Collage

Using commonplace objects and materials as art elements.

Synthetic cubism abandoned the austere, almost scientific, sterility of analytical cubism and instead used simple shapes and bright colours.

Indigenous Art

African, Australian and North American tribal masks, highly stylised and non-naturalistic were beginning to be displayed in the large public museums of Europe. Trophies of empire and a new source of inspiration.

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