cubism

noun

cub·​ism ˈkyü-ˌbi-zəm How to pronounce cubism (audio)
often capitalized
: a style of art that stresses abstract structure at the expense of other pictorial elements especially by displaying several aspects of the same object simultaneously and by fragmenting the form of depicted objects
cubist noun or adjective often capitalized
cubistic adjective

Examples of cubism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Sherman sees the disjunctions in her new work’s faces almost as an exercise in cubism. Nancy Princenthal, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2024 And no, in 1906, Picasso hadn’t yet invented (with Georges Braque) the revolutionary pictorial language known as cubism. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2024 While her contemporaries embraced cubism, Dadaism, and abstraction, Beaux remained an Impressionist figurative painter. Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 27 Oct. 2023 Other noteworthy paintings are by Wifredo Lam, justifiably renowned for blending exuberant tropical motifs with European cubism and surrealism, and by Belkis Ayón, who dramatically explores gender, race, and Afro-Caribbean rituals. Javier Zamora, Foreign Affairs, 28 Feb. 2023 It was put together by Brazilian artist Romero Britto, who uses bright colors and elements of cubism in his works. Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, 5 May 2023 Past themes have addressed the influence of China, Catholicism, machines, punk, superheroes, cubism and other designers such as Alexander McQueen, Elsa Schiaparelli, Christian Dior and Rei Kawakubo. Valli Herman, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2023 Even Chester Dale — the New York financier who became, as Cohen-Solal notes, an avid Picasso collector in the late 1920s — steered clear of cubism. Hugh Eakin, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2023 Other paintings are much looser, verging on cubism or featuring meaty flesh rendered in the manner of Francis Bacon. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 23 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cubism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cubism was in 1911

Dictionary Entries Near cubism

Cite this Entry

“Cubism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cubism. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cubism

noun
cub·​ism ˈkyü-ˌbiz-əm How to pronounce cubism (audio)
: a style of art in which natural forms are broken up into geometric shapes (as squares, triangles, or circles)
cubist adjective or noun

More from Merriam-Webster on cubism

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