George Braque was a French sculptor and painter and known as one of the co-founders of the cubism movement along with Picasso. The painting uses disjointed images to create variable viewpoints.
It is painted in a monochrome style using various shades which Barque believed would accentuate the subject matter.
In places it is clear what the subject is supposed to be while other parts are a lot harder to decipher, the method used gave the painting a three dimensional feel and Braque described his style as “a technique for getting closer to the object” It is said that Braque had an fascination for order and method and wanted the audiences mind to travel around without restrictions within the painting.
To achieve his desired result Braque would heavily crowd the objects at the centre of frame.
In his early career Braque was remarkably ground-breaking, producing works using collage, printmaking and sculpture. Braque also found the primitive art style influential.
Paul Cezanne was a significant influence on Braque which led him to create a type of Cubist painting in landscapes. He then worked with Picasso and the two of them began painting in the style of Analytical Cubism and would later go on to create Synthetic Cubism.
Braque enlisted in the French army in 1914 ending the pairs working relationship. in 1915 he got injured in World War 1 and it took him nearly two years to fully recover.
Braque never really took to being a big personality in the art world and would much prefer spending solitary phases in his workshop. Braque died in Paris in 1963 aged 81.
Violin and Candlestick is currently on display at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
