Acrobats
1916
Signed 'Barcelona 1916' in the corner, this energetic sketch by Cubist pioneer Albert Gleizes captures acrobats mid-tumble without showing a single realistic muscle. Instead of flesh and bone, we see a chaotic dance of triangles, circles, and sweeping ink washes that seem to vibrate with movement. Gleizes wasn't interested in painting what the circus looked like; he wanted to paint the feeling of the performance, breaking the figures apart and reassembling them like a puzzle in motion. It is a perfect example of how Cubists shattered traditional perspective to show the dynamic energy of modern life.
- Technique
- Ink and wash
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