Maria Blanchard: Cubism and the Human Figure

María Blanchard (1881–1932) was a Spanish painter whose career developed between Spain and France. Born in Santander, she settled permanently in Paris in 1915 and became an active participant in the Cubist circle, forming a close friendship with Juan Gris. Her paintings gave Cubism a distinctive voice, combining carefully organised forms with an expressive use of colour.

Cubist Still Lifes and Musical Subjects

Blanchard’s Cubist paintings turn familiar subjects into complex arrangements of planes and overlapping shapes. Works such as Le Monogramme, Le Joueur de Luth and her still lifes offer different ways into this part of her work, where objects and their surroundings become closely connected within the composition.

Explore the wider movement in our Cubist art prints collection, or compare her approach with the ordered compositions of Juan Gris.

Figures, Childhood and Motherhood

The collection also includes Blanchard’s figurative subjects, from seated children to Maternité. These works bring attention back to the human presence: a pose, a relationship between figures or a quiet moment at a table. They offer a different mood from the Cubist still lifes while retaining her concern with the construction of a picture.

Choosing a Maria Blanchard Print

Choose a Cubist still life for a wall where shape and visual rhythm are the main attraction, or a figurative work for a more intimate focus. A single larger print gives the composition room to unfold; smaller works can be paired through a shared subject or colour palette. For another interpretation of modern figures and geometric form, browse our Fernand Léger prints.

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