Braque initially trained as a house painter and decorator before turning to fine art. After flirting a bit with Fauvism, he met Pablo Picasso in 1909 and, together, he and the Spaniard formed the Cubism movement. Their fragmented geometric forms, multiple perspectives and monochromatic palette became the subgenres of Analytic Cubism and (with brighter colors and less fragmentation) Synthetic Cubism; in the early stages, the work of Braque and Picasso were very similar. Whereas Picasso eventually moved on to experiment with many different styles, Braque stayed true to Cubism for the rest of his career. Braque was seriously wounded as a soldier in World War I and, after returning home post-war, his paintings project a new calmness, a bit more color variations and softer edges. Braque was deeply influenced by the art of Cézanne, who likewise was interested in depicting many different viewpoints at the same time. “Lemons” from 1929 keeps the initial neutral colors of Analytic Cubism but adds the pop of bright yellow and the flash of intense white. The items are no longer broken into multiple sharp fragments. The composition invites quiet contemplation rather than breathless analysis.
March theme: When Life Gives You Lemons...
GEORGES BRAQUE (1882 - 1963), “Lemons”, 1929. Private collection.
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