Art History Timeline / Cubism
Cubism for Kids: Art History, Artists and an Easy Art Activity
Cubist artists showed things from many sides at the same time. They broke faces and objects into shapes and put them back together like a puzzle. A face might show the front and the side at once.
For teachers
Picasso and Braque developed Cubism in Paris from about 1907, building on Cézanne's simplified forms. Analytic Cubism broke objects into faceted planes in muted colours, and Synthetic Cubism added collage and brighter colour. The name came from a critic's comment about little cubes.
What to look for
Pull up an artwork from this time and go on a looking hunt. Here is what to spot.
- Geometric shapes and angles
- More than one view at once
- Collage pieces like newspaper
- Guitars, bottles and faces
Meet the artists
María Blanchard
1881 to 1932
She was a Spanish painter who worked with the Cubists in Paris.
Pablo Picasso
1881 to 1973
He started Cubism with Georges Braque.
Georges Braque
1882 to 1963
He was one of the first artists to glue paper into paintings.
Juan Gris
1887 to 1927
He used bright, clear shapes and collage in his Cubist still lifes.
Try it
An easy art activity you can do with paper and whatever drawing tools you have.
Draw a face with one eye from the front and the nose from the side. Split the face into big geometric shapes and colour each shape a different colour.
Ms Artastic lessons
Ready-to-teach lessons that connect to this part of the timeline.
Books for your art shelf
- Pablo Picasso (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists) by Mike Venezia
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Questions teachers and parents ask
What is Cubism?
Cubist artists showed things from many sides at the same time. They broke faces and objects into shapes and put them back together like a puzzle. A face might show the front and the side at once.
What time period is Cubism from?
Time period: 1907 to 1920s. Where: France and Spain.
Who are some famous artists of Cubism?
María Blanchard (1881 to 1932), Pablo Picasso (1881 to 1973), Georges Braque (1882 to 1963) and Juan Gris (1887 to 1927).
What is an easy art project for kids about Cubism?
Draw a face with one eye from the front and the nose from the side. Split the face into big geometric shapes and colour each shape a different colour.
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