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Figure

1920
Georges Braque (French, 1882–1963)
Figure is Braque's first sculpture and a milestone in the development of his art. The geometric handling of the torso and legs, whose forms are demarcated through deep undercutting to produce strong contrasts of light and shadow, carries forward his exploration of Cubism, yet the curves of the arms and coiffure reflect a new openness to the classical tradition. At this time, both Braque and Picasso, his partner in the invention of Cubism, looked to the art of ancient Greece and Rome for fresh inspiration in much the same way they looked to the example of African or Iberian sculpture as they embarked on their first Cubist experiments over ten years earlier.

Object Details

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