Georges Braque began his professional life as a house painter and decorator, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather in Le Havre. This practical training in surface treatment and material handling provided the technical foundation for a career that eventually transformed the visual arts through the rigorous development of Cubism alongside Pablo Picasso.
Early Career and Fauvism
Born in 1882 in Argenteuil, Braque pursued formal artistic training at the École supérieure d'art et design Le Havre-Rouen and later at the Beaux-Arts de Paris. By 1905, he embraced the vibrant color palettes of the Fauves, collaborating with artists such as Raoul Dufy and Othon Friesz. His Fauvist phase included travels to L'Estaque and Antwerp, and he successfully exhibited these works at the 1907 Salon des Indépendants.
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Take the IQ test →The Development of Cubism
Following the 1907 Cézanne retrospective in Paris, Braque shifted his focus toward geometric abstraction and multiple perspectives. Between 1908 and 1912, his partnership with Pablo Picasso in Montmartre led to the creation of Analytic Cubism. Works such as Houses at l'Estaque demonstrated his reduction of architectural forms into fragmented, cube-like structures. The partnership concluded in 1914 upon Braque's enlistment in the French Army.
Wartime Injury and Later Oeuvre
A severe head injury sustained in 1915 at Carency resulted in temporary blindness and required a period of recuperation. Resuming work in 1916, Braque moderated his approach, incorporating textured surfaces and brilliant colors. His later career involved diverse disciplines including jewelry design, scenography, and printmaking. Significant later commissions included ceiling paintings for the Louvre in 1952 and the 1962 series L’Ordre des Oiseaux.
Fast facts
- Born: 13 May 1882, Argenteuil
- Died: 31 August 1963, Paris
- Citizenship: France
- Notable works: Houses at l'Estaque, La Guitare, Mandola
- Award: Commander of the Legion of Honour (1951)
- Award: Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres (1957)
- Award: Feltrinelli Prize (1959)
- Burial place: Varengeville-Sur-Mer Churchyard
Questions readers ask
What was the technical basis for Braque's Cubist style?
Braque utilized geometric schemas to fragment images, questioning standard conventions of light and perspective to render objects that appeared both flat and three-dimensional.
Did Braque and Picasso always agree on their stylistic direction?
While they collaborated closely, their focus differed; Picasso emphasized animation while Braque prioritized contemplation and the study of ordinary objects.
Achievements
- Commander of the Legion of Honour — 1951
- Feltrinelli Prize — 1959
- Notable work: Houses at l'Estaque
- Notable work: La Guitare
- Notable work: Mandola
- Movement: cubism and Fauvism
