Georges Braque biography

Georges Braque, born in Argenteuil on 13 May 1882, is a key figure of modern art, famous for having been, together with Pablo Picasso, the initiator of cubism . Raised in Le Havre, Normandy, son of Charles Braque, painter and decorator, and Augustine Johannet, he began his artistic studies at the evening school of fine arts from 1897 to 1899, and then moved to Paris. Here, he worked as an apprentice to a master decorator and enrolled at the Académie Humbert, where he studied until 1904 and met figures such as Marie Laurencin and Francis Picabia.
In 1905-1906, influenced by Henri Matisse, Georges Braque began to paint in the manner of the Fauves, using bright colors and free composition. 1907 marks a decisive turning point in his career: he visits Paul Cézanne's retrospective at the Salon d'Automne and meets Picasso. This meeting and the discovery of African art pushed him to explore geometric shapes and a reduced palette, anticipating Cubism.
Analytical Cubism was born between 1909 and 1910, a period in which Braque and Picasso collaborated intensely, breaking with traditional representation of reality and introducing elements of reality, such as fragments of real objects and mixed techniques, into their works. This revolutionary approach allows objects to be represented from multiple perspectives simultaneously, challenging the conventions of classical painting.
The First World War interrupts this period of intense experimentation: Georges Braque is recalled to the front in 1914 and is seriously injured. Upon his return, he settles back in Normandy and resumes painting, developing a more personal and figurative style. In this period, he mainly portrayed still lifes, interior views and seascapes, as well as dedicating himself to scenography, sculpture, engravings and jewelery design.
In the following years, Georges Braque continues to evolve artistically. His works range from those of the Cubist period, characterized by fragmented and angular forms, to those of his classical phase, with a more faithful representation of reality. His art, always innovative, is influenced by a wide range of styles and techniques, including African sculpture, Fauvism, Cubism and figurativism.
In 1958, Georges Braque received the prestigious Feltrinelli International Prize for the Arts awarded to him by the Accademia dei Lincei. This recognition underlines the importance and influence of his work within modern art. Georges Braque died in Paris on 31 August 1963 and was buried in the marine cemetery of Varengeville-sur-Mer, Normandy, a place that reflects his connection with this region and his love for the sea.
His artistic legacy, characterized by continuous experimentation and innovation, he left an indelible mark on the history of 20th century art, making him one of the most important exponents of the cubist movement and a pioneer of modernity.