Albert Gleizes

description

A French artist, writer and art critic. Albert Gleizes was an adherent and theorist of Cubism, and author of “About Cubism”, the first book devoted to this area, co-authored with Jean Metzinger.

The artist was born into the family of an industrial designer. His grandfather and uncle, famous painter Leon Komerr, the winner of the Rome Prize (1875), were professional artists, and Albert received a classical art education. In 1899, he went to work at his father’s workshops, and in 1902 he joined the military in Abbeville, where he spent 4 years. During his service, he began to seriously study painting and presented his Impressionist works at the National Cathedral of France and at the Autumn Salon of 1903 and 1904.

Authorship of the very term “Cubism”, which he first mentioned in his article in the journal “Independent Review”, is also attributed to A. Gleizes. The artist was a member of the avant-garde group “Golden Section”, and took part in the first exhibition of abstract art in Paris in 1912. He led an active social life, founded the literary community “L’Abbaye de Créteil” as well as the art colony “Moly-Sabata”. Albert Gleizes is the author of numerous articles on art, and in 1923 he published the book “Painting and its laws.” The artist’s work and research in the field of painting contributed to the emergence of abstract art and its further development.

Key ideas:

– Following the ideas and principles of the art movement, the Cubism of Albert Gleizes has its own bright distinguishing features. First of all, we can note the dynamism of his paintings, in which the artist tried to capture the speed and rhythm of modern life, the noise and movement of the newest cars, and the rapid development of technology.

– The thirst for movement and life is something that catches your eye when you take a look at the work of Gleizes. At the same time, the artist does not lose sight of the spiritual component of existence, making a person with their emotions and the inner world the main character of his work.

– Unlike his fellow Cubists, Gleizes was not interesting in the genre of still life, preferring live nature in landscapes and portraits. In the center of his paintings, there are almost always people, and a heap of complex geometric shapes in the background is an industrial landscape. This composition style, as well as the harmonious use of large planes of saturated colors, attracts the eye and makes the viewer study the canvas for a long time, noticing more and more details.

– The painting style of the artist is surprisingly realistic, despite its Cubist characteristics: ignoring of perspective, displacement of proportions and fragmentation of shapes. Through the schematic and accurate reproduction of reality, you can see the sober view of the artist, who seems to see through objects, perceiving their primary design and discarding unnecessary details.

– The art of Albert Gleizes impresses with its complex harmony, depth of a creative thought and, at the same time, the simplicity and clarity of its expression. Famous avant-garde poet and art expert Guillaume Apollinaire had this to say: “Greatness is what primarily characterizes the work of Albert Gleizes. He brought an innovative movement and the quality inherent in few artists before him to modern art. This greatness awakens the imagination, turns on the fantasy, although from a plastic point of view, it uses very simple means.”

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1881

1905

1909

1912

1915

1920

1930 - 1940

1953

The birth of the artist

Albert was born on the 8th of December in 1881 in Paris, France.

The first creative steps

After returning from the army, he organized the Ernest Renan Association – an alliance of students opposing military aggression. The following year, the artist presented his works at the Museum of Arts in Lyon, and together with friends created the society of artists Abbey de Creteil. The aim of this community was to popularize non-commercial art, free from bourgeois values. During this period, Gleizes created several canvases in the style of post-impressionism. Since neither he nor his comrades succeeded in drawing public attention to their art, in 1908, the Abbey was closed because of a lack of money.

"the Puteaux group"

He began to participate in the life of Parisian avant-garde art. The artist met his future friends and associates: R. Delone, F. Léger, A. Le Fauconnier, J. Metzinger. The young artists were united by a common interest in the primacy of the structure, rather than color, in painting, which led to the creation of a new style in painting – analytical Cubism. The group of artists and poets, which also included G. Apollinaire, began to meet regularly at the salon of the Villon brothers in the suburbs of Paris Puteaux, and because of this art historians called this progressive society the Puteaux group. In 1911, abstract artists organized a major exhibition at the Salon des Indépendants. The show was met with mostly negative reactions, as most visitors were not prepared to accept the new Cubist painting.

"Golden Section", the book "About Cubism"

Together with friends, he created the association Golden Section, which included about fifteen artists and sculptors with an abstract focus. Their exhibition in December of the same year received far less criticism than the debut performance, and aroused a keen interest among critics and connoisseurs of art in Paris. The book “About Cubism”, which Gleizes wrote in collaboration with his colleague Metzenje, was published for this event. The work, which was illustrated by the authors themselves and their associates, described the basic ideas and principles of Cubism.

Stay in USA

After a short stint in the army, he moved to New York, where he remained until the end of the war. In America, the artist met his longtime acquaintances Francis Picabia and Marcel Duchamp, and also met leading American artists such as Men Ray and Stuart Davis. The art of the Dadaists made a strong impression on Gleizes, although he did not join this art movement. During his stay in the US, the artist’s work acquired new themes and colors.

Scientific work and religious topics

Having returned to France after the war, the artist decided to restore the society “Golden Section”, but, unfortunately, he did not succeed. The artist began to pay more attention to literary creativity and scientific work, and gave lectures on art in Germany, France and Poland. In 1927, he founded a colony for artists at a house called Moly-Sabata, where he invited some his colleagues and students. Gleizes began to address religious topics, while preserving the features of Cubism in his paintings.

the Grand Prix

Joined the group Abstraction and Creativity – the first association of Abstractionists. This community was of great importance for the development of European abstract painting. In addition, Gleizes took part in several exhibitions of the group, and in 1937 created large-scale murals for the Paris World Fair. At the end of his life, the artist published several books on art. In 1951, he was awarded the Grand Prix at the Biennale in Menton.