Research Information System
An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities), vol.39, no.4, pp.231-242, 2025 (Scopus)
Objective: This study aims to present a visual analytical model for exploring artistic techniques within various intellectual contexts between Cubism and Purism. It seeks to clarify how Purism addressed the dilemma of reinterpreting cultural heritage within a new artistic framework that meets the demands of the present and future. Methodology: The study followed an analytical approach to a selected group of artworks representing the Purist movement from its inception to its early dissolution. It also compared these works with Cubist artworks, which initially emerged as a critique of the Cubist school. The study discusses the approach of both movements and highlights their roles in shaping modern painting as a response to the profound social changes that French society experienced before and after World War I. Results: Cubism played a pioneering role in revolutionizing modern visual arts by introducing a new perspective on reality. This vision was based on capturing multiple perspectives at once, going beyond three dimensions to reach the concept of the fourth dimension. In contrast, Purism crafted a visual language that effectively combined modernity and classicism, focusing on order, harmony, precision, and balance within a modern vision. As technology infiltrated all aspects of life, Purist pioneers took industrially produced elements as primary subjects in their artwork, reflecting the deep connection between modern humans and machines. This also underscores the irreversible dominance of production forces over the interaction of bodies and minds with their surrounding environment. Recommendations: The study recommended that researchers and specialists discuss the role of both movements in shaping the visual image in modern and contemporary societies by organizing workshops and educational seminars. It also called for field research that includes interviews with contemporary artists to explore the mechanisms of using Cubist and Purist techniques in their artistic production.