Georges Braque 'Procris' an enamel and 18ct gold brooch

Georges Braque (1882-1963) was a French painter, collagist, and sculptor who, alongside Pablo Picasso, played a pivotal role in the development of Cubism, one of the most influential art movements of the 20th century. Born in Argenteuil, France, Braque initially trained as a house painter and decorator before studying art at the École des Beaux-Arts in Le Havre.

Braque's early work was influenced by the Fauvist style, characterized by bold colors and spontaneous brushwork. However, after meeting Picasso in 1907, Braque's style shifted dramatically. Together, the two artists developed Cubism, a revolutionary approach to art that fragmented objects into geometric shapes and allowed for multiple perspectives within a single plane. This period of collaboration between 1908 and 1912 is often regarded as one of the most important in the history of modern art.

Braque's work continued to evolve after World War I, as he moved away from the austere geometry of early Cubism towards a more textured and layered approach, incorporating sand and other materials into his paintings. His later work often featured still lifes, landscapes, and interiors, characterized by their subtle use of color and complex compositions.

Braque's Work with Jewels

In the later years of his career, Georges Braque expanded his artistic endeavors into the realm of jewelry design. In the 1960s, he collaborated with jeweler Heger de Loewenfeld to create a series of exquisite pieces known as "Bijoux de Braque" (Braque's Jewels). These works were deeply rooted in his Cubist aesthetics, translating the principles of his painting into the medium of jewelry.

The pieces were typically crafted from gold, and they often featured motifs such as birds, a recurring symbol in Braque's art, and abstract shapes reminiscent of his paintings. The jewelry maintained the same sense of harmony, balance, and meticulous attention to form that characterized his visual art.

Braque's foray into jewelry design was relatively limited but is considered a significant extension of his artistic legacy, illustrating how his innovative spirit and Cubist principles could be applied beyond the canvas. Today, these jewelry pieces are highly valued for their rarity and the unique blend of fine art and craftsmanship they represent.

Source : Wikipedia

image: 1908, photograph published in Gelett Burgess, The Wild Men of Paris, Architectural Record, May 1910