papier collé

art form

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July 1, 2026

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Papier collé is an art form derived from the French term for "pasted paper." It involves applying manufactured or found materials, such as newspaper clippings or wallpaper, to a surface, often in conjunction with painting.1

This technique was notably extended by artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque around 1912-1913. They incorporated fragments of paper, wood, and other materials onto their canvases, contributing to the development of Synthetic Cubism. The technique was also utilized by artists such as Max Ernst, Kurt Schwitters, and Henri Matisse, and later became a significant element in Pop Art.12

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collage
In the 19th century, papiers collés were created from papers cut out and put together to form decorative compositions. In about 1912–13 Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque extended this technique, combining fragments of paper, wood, linoleum, and newspapers with oil paint on canvas to form subtle and interesting abstract…
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In the 19th century, papiers collés were created from papers cut out and put together to form decorative compositions. In about 1912–13 Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque extended this technique, combining fragments of paper, wood, linoleum, and newspapers with oil paint on canvas to form subtle and interesting abstract…
Read More

Georges Braque
Cubism
…is generally considered the first papier collé by attaching three pieces of wallpaper to the drawing Fruit Dish and Glass. He also began to introduce sand and sawdust onto his canvases. This work significantly strengthened the idea, full of consequences for the future of art, that a picture is not…
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…is generally considered the first papier collé by attaching three pieces of wallpaper to the drawing Fruit Dish and Glass. He also began to introduce sand and sawdust onto his canvases. This work significantly strengthened the idea, full of consequences for the future of art, that a picture is not…
Read More