Head of a Woman (1909; France) by Georges Braque

Head of a Woman - Georges Braque - 1909; France

Artwork Information

TitleHead of a Woman
ArtistGeorges Braque
Date1909; France
Mediumoil,canvas
Dimensions41 x 33 cm
Art MovementCubism
Current LocationMusée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paris, France

About Head of a Woman

The artwork “Head of a Woman” by Georges Braque, created in 1909, is an oil on canvas painting situated within the genre of portraiture and the movement of Cubism. Measuring 41 by 33 centimeters, this piece exemplifies the radical departure from traditional representation that defines Cubism. The artwork is held in the collection of the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, in France.

The artwork is characterized by the fragmented and geometric representation of the subject, typical of the Cubist style. Bold blocks of contrasting colors, including shades of brown, blue, and red, interlock to create the image of a woman, reminiscent of both a sculpture and a two-dimensional painting simultaneously. The planes of color and the angular lines seem to suggest multiple viewpoints merged into one composite perspective. The woman’s facial features, while abstracted, maintain a coherent form, with discernible eyes, nose, and lips. The use of shading and color variations provides a sense of depth and dimension, despite the lack of traditional perspective. This painting demonstrates how Braque, along with other Cubist artists, sought to challenge and redefine artistic conventions of the time by presenting a subject from multiple perspectives concurrently, thus emphasizing the interplay of form, light, and shadow over lifelike representation.

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