How did Cubist artists show several viewpoints of an object in one painting?

Cubist artists, such as Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso, moved away from traditional Renaissance techniques that relied on a single, fixed perspective to create an illusion of depth. Instead, they sought to present a new kind of reality by breaking down objects into fragmented, geometric forms.123

To show several viewpoints of an object in one painting, artists employed the following methods:

• Formal Breakdown: They analyzed and fractured objects into overlapping opaque and transparent planes. By dissecting the form, they could depict multiple facets of a subject simultaneously, often appearing as illogical or complex views on the same canvas.123
• Rejection of Illusionism: By discarding traditional modeling and chiaroscuro, they emphasized the flat, two-dimensional surface of the picture plane. This allowed them to merge figures, objects, and space onto a grid, where different axes and light sources could coexist.12
• Conveying Information: Artists believed that showing multiple viewpoints allowed them to convey more information about an object than a single, limited view could provide.2

This process, central to Analytical Cubism, prioritized the structure of the form itself over the imitation of nature.12