the cubist contribution to the salon created a controversy in the french parliament about the use of public funds to provide the venue for such 'barbaric art'. gleizes was a founder of cubism, and demonstrates the principles of the movement in this monumental painting (over six feet tall) with its projecting planes and fragmented lines. the large size of the painting reflects gleizes's ambition to show it in the large annual salon exhibitions in paris, where he was able with others of his entourage to bring cubism to wider audiences.