In a sense, “Cubism” is a misleading term, for, in the first place, “Cubist” pictures are not painted in cubes, but in all sorts of angles and curves; in the second place, the theory does not call for angles.
The theory being the expression of emotion in line and color, there is no conceivable reason why cubes and angles should be used to the exclusion of curves, swirls, sweeps, dashes. On the contrary, of all forms, cubes and angles would seem to be the most inappropriate for emotional expression, since they are peculiarly suggestive of the geometrical and the matter-of-fact.
“Curvism” or “Swirlism” would describe the movement just as well, save that for the time being angles are very much in evidence.
Picabia says that “Cubism” is a misnomer for the movement. He says:
After impressionism, neo-impressionism, then cubism, which sought a geometric third dimension in painting, the expression of things seen in geometrical figures. But a purely subjective art cannot, of course, be bound by any form of expression the moment that expression becomes a convention, an established body of laws with accepted values. Therefore, he has cut loose from cubism, and is what, again for handy classification—an evil habit from which we cannot emancipate ourselves—may perhaps best be called “post-cubist,” with entirely unfettered, spontaneous, ever-varying means of expression in form and color waves, according to the commands, the needs, the inspiration of the impression, the mood received. Objective expression is strictly barred. He even ignores form as far as possible, seeking “color harmonies.” Harmony and equilibrium are his device.
But the Cubists are rapidly getting away from the cubes and angles. It is quite possible that a year or two hence we shall see no more purely Cubist pictures.
That does not mean the movement will come to an end—not at all. The movement toward abstract painting, toward the use of line and paint on canvas for mere pleasure of using them, and without copying objects in either life or nature, is in its infancy.
“But I don’t understand them!”