Which influences are known to have impacted the development of Cubism?

The development of Cubism was significantly influenced by African masks and realism, which played a crucial role in shaping the aesthetic and conceptual framework of this avant-garde movement. The geometric forms and abstraction found in African masks resonated with the founders of Cubism, particularly Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, as they sought to break away from traditional perspectives and representation in art. This influence encouraged artists to explore fragmented forms, multiple viewpoints, and a more abstract representation of reality, deviating from the naturalistic depiction common in earlier art movements.

Additionally, the appreciation for the complexity and symbolic nature of African art provided a fresh perspective that artists incorporated into their work, allowing for innovative methods of visual expression that defined Cubism. The connection to realism in this context lies in the desire of Cubist artists to represent reality not through conventional means but through a new lens that combined elements of abstraction with cultural inspirations, thereby expanding the boundaries of artistic representation.