Headpiece (folio 14) from Le Piège de Méduse (The Ruse of Medusa)

Headpiece (folio 14) from Le Piège de Méduse (The Ruse of Medusa) is a seminal visual component created by the influential French modernist Georges Braque in 1921. This work is one of only three woodcuts that accompany the publication, classifying it as a vital example of the livre d'artiste (artist's book) tradition flourishing in post-war Europe.

The production of this illustrated book marks Braque’s transition from the intense fragmentation of analytical Cubism toward a more decorative and synthesized approach that defined his work through the 1920s. As a woodcut, the piece demanded a mastery of line and negative space, favoring simplified, robust forms that distinguish it from the collage work he pioneered just a decade prior. Braque utilized the stark contrast inherent in the woodcut technique to achieve an elegant graphic quality, creating a powerful image that complements the textual themes of the larger project. The composition employs a clear organization, focusing on symbolic objects rendered with precision and poise.

This print provides insight into Braque’s sustained interest in classical mythology, filtered through a distinctly modern visual vocabulary. The choice of the illustrated book medium in 1921 allowed the artist to explore the relationship between the visual arts and literature, a common endeavor among French artists and intellectuals following World War I. Braque’s proficiency in translating his painterly concerns into the realm of prints solidified his status as a versatile master of the 20th century. This particular folio is preserved within the extensive collection of the Museum of Modern Art, contributing to the understanding of Braque’s expansive body of work in the graphic arts.