Portland Public Library

Cubism and the trompe l'oeil tradition, Emily Braun, Elizabeth Cowling ; with essays by Claire Le Thomas and Rachel Mustalish

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-277) and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Cubism and the trompe l'oeil tradition

catalogsbibliography

1153053866

Emily Braun, Elizabeth Cowling ; with essays by Claire Le Thomas and Rachel Mustalish

The age-old artistic tradition of pictorial illusionism, known as trompe l'oeil ("deceive the eye") beguiles us with visual tricks and confounds our perception of reality and fiction. Presenting a radically new take on Cubism, this book shows how Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, and Juan Gris parodied classic trompe l'oeil motifs and devices while inventing playful, original ways of challenging the viewer's perception. Insightful, handsomely illustrated essays explore connections between the Cubists and the trompe l'oeil artists of earlier centuries with whom they engaged in creative one-upmanship. Essays discuss the previously unstudied trompe l'oeil iconography within Cubist still lifes; the history of the trompe l'oeil genre and its changing status over the centuries; the materials and processes used in Gris's collages; Braque's grounding in trompe l'oeil interior decoration techniques; and more. Over one hundred illustrated works juxtapose Cubist paintings, drawings, and collages with related compositions by the old masters. This handsome volume, which reveals the surprising origins of some of Cubism's most recognized motifs, is essential reading for anyone interested in the development of modern art