GEORGE BRAQUE WORKS

Georges Braque, born in Argenteuil on May 13, 1882, is a pivotal figure in modern art, renowned for being, along with Pablo Picasso, the initiator of Cubism. Raised in Le Havre, Normandy, the son of Charles Braque, a painter and decorator, and Augustine Johannet, he began his artistic studies at the evening school of fine arts from 1897 to 1899, before moving to Paris. There, he worked as an apprentice with 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 painting in the manner of the Fauves, using bright colors and a free composition. The year 1907 marked a decisive turning point in his career: he visited the retrospective of Paul Cézanne at the Salon d'Automne and met Picasso. This meeting and the discovery of African art prompted him to explore geometric forms and a reduced palette, anticipating Cubism.
Analytical Cubism emerged between 1909 and 1910, a period during which Braque and Picasso collaborated intensively, breaking away from the 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 for the representation of objects from multiple perspectives simultaneously, challenging the conventions of classical painting.
World War I interrupts this period of intense experimentation: Georges Braque is called to the front in 1914 and is seriously injured. Upon his return, he settles again in Normandy and resumes painting, developing a more personal and figurative style. During this period, he mainly portrays still lifes, interior views, and seascapes, in addition to working on set design, sculpture, engravings, and jewelry design.
In the following years, Georges Braque continued 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 underscores the importance and influence of his artwork in the field of modern art. Georges Braque died in Paris on August 31, 1963, and was buried in the marine cemetery of Varengeville-sur-Mer, in Normandy, a place that reflects his connection to this region and his love for the sea.
His artistic legacy, characterized by continuous experimentation and innovation, has 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.