Portret van Albert Flechteim 1914

Louis Marcoussis painted this fractured portrait of Albert Flechtheim using oil on canvas. The application of paint in distinct planes showcases a Cubist technique that values intellectual analysis over realistic representation. The materiality of paint allows the artist to fragment the subject into geometric shapes, which is crucial to understanding its meaning. Marcoussis uses color, tone, and line to explore the sitter's character. The overlaying planes reflect the dynamism of modern life. The painting's surface emphasizes the constructed nature of reality. By engaging with Cubism, Marcoussis was aligning himself with a radical artistic movement that rejected academic tradition. This challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft by valuing experimentation and abstraction. The techniques, tools, and skilled traditions that Marcoussis uses reflect a modern aesthetic, which is rooted in industry, labor and social contexts. This approach marks a departure from traditional portraiture.