Picasso co-founded Cubism with Georges Braque.
Cubism emerged in Paris in the early 20th century and challenged the traditional idea that a subject should be shown from one fixed viewpoint. Picasso and Braque broke forms into geometric facets and combined several perspectives, creating images that appear fragmented yet represent objects and people in a new way.
Their collaboration became especially important from about 1908 onward. Picasso’s experiments followed works such as Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, while Braque developed related ideas after studying Paul Cézanne’s landscapes. They worked closely, sometimes producing paintings so similar that attribution can be difficult.
Cubism developed through Analytic Cubism, with subdued colors and complex planes, and Synthetic Cubism, which introduced collage and brighter constructions. The movement’s influence extended beyond painting into sculpture, architecture, literature, and design. Other important Cubist artists included Juan Gris, Fernand Léger, and Jean Metzinger.