Georges Braque
(1882 - 1963)
Born: Argeneuil-sur-Siene, France
Style: Cubism
Famous Works:
- Clarinet and Bottle of Rum on a Mantelpiece (1911)
- Man with a Guitar (1914)
- Newspaper, Bottle, Packet of Tobacco (1914)
Georges Braque began as a painter-decorator in the tradition of both his father and grandfather. It was in this forum that Braque developed his eye for craftsmanship as well as the technical prowess which would distinguish him from his peers later in his life. At the age of eighteen Braque moved to Paris where he studied briefly at the École des Beaux-Arts. Braque befriended members of the Fauvist movement, including Raoul Dufy, and painted in the brilliantly colored manner typical of the Fauves. In 1907 Braque began working in the style which came to be known as Cubism. This change occurred following his exposure to Paul Cézanne and Pablo Picasso. Braque was highly influenced by Picasso's work and soon began exploring a geometric fragmenting of form and multi-perspectival view. The two worked closely together from 1910-1912, developing and creating the Cubist movement. Often their work was very similar, visualizing images three-dimensionally and incorporating geometrical shapes, lines and forms into their paintings. However, Braque displayed his technical roots, immersing himself in the problems presented in this new vision. After a short service in the First World War, Braque returned to Paris, where his work diverged from Picasso's. Until his death in 1963, Braque continued to produce Cubist still life and figure paintings, incorporating the vivid colors of the Fauves and continually experimenting with textured media and surfaces.
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