BIRTHDAY POST: GEORGES BRAQUE

Born today in 1882, Georges Braque would become a major French painter, collagist, draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor. Most importantly, he was a major contributor to Fauvism and the development of Cubism.

Georges Braque in his studio (from BRAQUE: The Late Works)

Fauvism is the style of les Fauves ("the while beasts" in French), who were an early 20th century modern artists who embraced painterly qualities and bright colors over the actual representation. Braque joined in on the movement right in the midst of it in 1905. He painted along with Raoul Dufy and Othon Friesz who lived in Braque's hometown of Le Havre. In 1907, he exhibited his Fauvist works in the Salon des Independants. Later on that year his work became influenced by Cezanne whose work he was able to see in Paris when they were exhibited large scale for the first time after Cezanne's death in 1906.

Georges Braque, landscape at la ciotat, 1907, oil on canvas

Georges Braque, The Viaduct at L'Estaque, 1907-1908, oil on canvas

The combination of Fauvism and the influence of Cezanne resulted in the beginning of Cubism. From 1908-1913 Braque's work reflected experimenting with perspective and geometry. In 1909 Braque began working closely with Picasso: "A comparison of the works of Picasso and Braque during 1908 reveals that the effect of his encounter with Picasso was more to accelerate and intensify Braque's exploration of Cezanne's ideas, rather than divert his thinking in any essential way." After broadening their Cubism ways together, Picasso and Barque began working with collage in 1912. This is when Braque invented the papier colle technique, which is when collage is strictly paper on a mount whereas collage can be anything on a mount.

Georges Braque, Guitar and Fruit Dish, 1909, oil on canvas

Georges Braque, La Guitare, 1909-1910, oil on canvas

Georges Braque, Fruit dish and glass, 1912, papier colle and charcoal on paper

 I think what is most amazing is that Georges Braque worked with Pablo Picasso and invented Cubism and papier colle collage together, yet in the years I've been studying Art and Art History this is the first time I have ever heard of him. Clearly people have combined the works into solely Pablo's work an it is about time to give Georges Braque the importance and recognition he deserves.