Synthetic Cubism, emerging around 1912 and evolving until about 1919, marked a significant evolution in Pablo Picasso's artistic journey, representing a departure from the fragmented forms of Analytic Cubism towards a more constructed, colorful, and textured form of art. This phase introduced the revolutionary use of collage, incorporating materials such as newspaper clippings, wallpaper, and fabric into artworks, thereby blurring the boundaries between painted and real-world textures and forms (Smarthistory) (The Art Story) (Wikipedia).
This period saw Picasso, along with Georges Braque and Juan Gris, experimenting with new ways of representing reality. They created compositions that were less about breaking down objects into geometric forms and more about building them up, synthesizing disparate elements into cohesive wholes. The technique of papier collé (pasted paper) became central to Synthetic Cubism, allowing for a richer exploration of textures and materials within a single artwork (Smarthistory).
One notable aspect of Synthetic Cubism was its shift towards simpler shapes and brighter colors, which contrasted with the monochromatic and complex geometries of Analytic Cubism. This new approach also included more explicit references to the real world, integrating letters, numbers, and pieces of everyday life into the canvases. Such practices not only expanded the conceptual depth of the artworks but also played with the notion of art as a construct of both imagination and reality (The Art Story).
The innovative use of materials and the incorporation of real-world objects directly into artworks during this period were groundbreaking. It challenged traditional notions of art as an imitation of life, suggesting instead that art could integrate life's actual components. Braque's and Picasso's retreat from the brink of total abstraction in their late Analytic Cubist works to a more representational style in Synthetic Cubism emphasized this blend of the abstract and the tangible, creating complex compositions that engaged viewers in new ways of seeing and understanding art (Smarthistory).