Cubism and Cubist Artists

There is a debate over who invented Cubism, however for a painting to be a true cubist painting it must involve the three main ingredients which are:
GEOMETRICITY: Simplified objects and figures which may or may not result in the whole figure or object resembling that which we know in the natural world. It is also an approximation of the 4th dimension and is conceptual instead of perceptual reality.
PASSAGE: Overlapping and interpenetration of planes.
SIMULTANEITY: Different points of view made visible on one plane. Multiple views of objects and figures.
The argument goes that either Georges Braque or Pablo Picasso invented Cubism. Textbooks often hail Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon as the first Cubist painting as it involved the three main ingredients of Cubism; Geometricity, Simultaneity and passage. However this painting was not displayed until 1916, even though painted in 1907.
Georges Braque however delivered a series of paintings and many say that Houses at L'Estaque is the first Cubist painting which was influenced by Cezannes landscapes and painted in 1908. These paintings by Braque also urged art critic Louis Vauxcelles and Henri Mattisse to describe the paintings to be 'nothing but little cubes'. Hence the name Cubism was formed.
I think it fair to say that both Braque and Picasso created cubism, which was further developed by Juan Gris, who is described as the Third Cubist Painter. His paintings are described as more calculated than Picasso's and Braque's, with every line, shape, tone, colour and pattern being carefully refined.
There are four 'Cubism' periods.
Early Cubism or Cezannism (1908 - 1910)
Analytic Cubism (1912 - 1914)
Late Cubism (1915 - present)

Pablo Picasso: Les Demoiselles D'Avignon

Georges Braque: Houses at L'Estaque

Juan Gris: Harlequin with Guitar
 

Inspiration for Urban Landscape final piece: John Piper and L S Lowry

For my final piece for the Urban Landscape project my inspiration came from art mainly created by John Piper and L S Lowry, however I did ponder whether I should go into a more abstract form of art. Never the less I felt that for this particular assignment; buildings, town and city scenes, urban life, I wanted to paint a picture that showed the observer the streets and buildings of the city rather than focus on shapes and colours that show a hint of the scene I had in mind to project.
Both John Piper and L S Lowry, in my opinion created scenes which are recognisable and yet show personality and imagination. I also feel there is a sense of freedom with both Piper and Lowry to paint a picture the way they felt it should look rather that how it may actually appear in real life.

I was taken by John Piper's art and found his choice of scenes to paint to be most impressive. Without too much emphasis on a very life like painting his art shows brilliant colour and imagination. I felt I leaned towards the style of John Piper whilst attempting my own urban landscape scene. His colours are quite over the top and enhanced and I wanted to deliver strong saturated colours in my art.

L S Lowry who was famous for his paintings of the North of England in the mid 20th century and his matchstick men was a huge inspiration to me. I liked his naive approach to painting and again I liked his use of colour within the dusty streets and scenes. Because of this I felt an urge to paint old mills and grotty smokey scenes also but I chose a scene which had both yesterdays buildings and today's more modern buildings together.
My final piece is taken from a photograph I took of a scene in Manchester and I wanted to show buildings both old and new.