Pablo Picasso's African-influenced Period, spanning from 1907 to 1909, marked a pivotal moment in his artistic journey, profoundly impacting the development of Cubism and modern art. This phase, sometimes referred to as his "Negro Period" or "Black Period," was characterized by the influence of African sculpture, particularly traditional African masks, and art from ancient Egypt, as well as Iberian sculpture​ (Pablo Picasso)​​ (Wikipedia)​.

Picasso's exposure to African art, combined with influences from Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, Neo-Impressionism, and the works of artists like Georges Seurat, Édouard Manet, Paul Cézanne, and Paul Gauguin, led to the creation of art pieces with pictorial flatness, vivid color palettes, and fragmented shapes. These elements were crucial in the early formation of modernism. African sculptures, with their spiritual composition and stylized treatment of the human figure, were particularly appealing to Picasso and his contemporaries, even though they understood little of the original meaning and function of these artworks​ (Pablo Picasso)​.

One of the most iconic works of this period, and indeed in the entirety of Picasso's oeuvre, is "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" (1907). This painting represents a radical break from traditional composition and perspective, featuring distorted figures and faces inspired by African masks. The painting's confrontational, jagged lines and its rejection of naturalistic representation heralded the beginning of Cubism and a seismic shift in the art world​ (Pablo Picasso)​​ (Wikipedia)​.

The African Period was followed by the advent of Cubism, a movement co-founded by Picasso and Georges Braque. Cubism further developed the innovations of the African Period, breaking down objects into geometric shapes and presenting multiple viewpoints within a single plane, challenging the traditional perspective that had dominated Western art since the Renaissance​ (Pablo Picasso)​​ (TheCollector)​.

The influence of African art on Cubism and modern art is profound. Picasso's engagement with African sculpture introduced a new visual language that emphasized form over content and opened up possibilities for abstraction in Western art. This period not only reshaped Picasso's artistic direction but also left an indelible mark on the trajectory of 20th-century art, influencing numerous artists and movements that followed​ (TheCollector)​.