What is the Difference Between Analytical and Synthetic Cubism?

Analytical and Synthetic Cubism are two stages of the Cubist movement in art, which was revolutionized by artists like Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, and Juan Gris. The main differences between Analytical and Synthetic Cubism are:

1. Technique: Analytical Cubism focused on breaking down objects into fragmentary images, viewpoint by viewpoint, while Synthetic Cubism aimed to flatten the image and eliminate the last traces of three-dimensional space.
2. Color Palette: Analytical Cubism largely used monochromatic, dark, earthy tones, whereas Synthetic Cubism featured a more lively color palette, including bold reds, blues, yellows, and greens.
3. Materials: Analytical Cubism mainly used traditional painting materials, while Synthetic Cubism introduced collage and mixed media, such as newspaper print and patterned paper.
4. Shapes and Forms: Analytical Cubism fragmented forms and used multiple viewpoints, while Synthetic Cubism simplified and flattened shapes and forms.

Analytical Cubism occurred from early 1907 to 1912, while Synthetic Cubism began around 1912 and continued onwards. Both movements shared the use of geometric shapes and multiple perspectives in their artwork.

Comparative Table: Analytical vs Synthetic Cubism

Here is a table comparing the differences between Analytical Cubism and Synthetic Cubism:

Analytical Cubism was the first phase of the Cubism movement, characterized by breaking down subject matter into fragments and reassembling them overlapping planes, presenting different points of view simultaneously. In contrast, Synthetic Cubism was the later phase, focusing on using new elements, textures, and shapes to build images, with a flatter composition and less trace of three-dimensional space. Synthetic Cubism also incorporated found objects and the papier collé technique, creating a mixed media approach.