The artwork in question is a still life entitled “Bottle of Beaune and a Fruit Dish,” crafted by the artist Juan Gris in 1917. Rendered in oil on panel, the work measures 61.5 cm in height by 38.2 cm in width. Embodying the aesthetic principles of Synthetic Cubism, this piece is a part of a private collection. As typical of the genre, the still life purveys an arrangement of common objects.
In the artwork, Juan Gris deconstructs and reassembles the subject matter to create a composition that plays with perspective and form, which is characteristic of Cubist artworks. The central focus appears to be a bottle, identifiable by its green color and elongated neck, juxtaposed with fragments of a fruit dish, as mentioned in the title. Surrounding these objects are a variety of geometric shapes and intersecting planes, rendered in a restrained palette that combines shades of green, brown, white, and black.
The canvas features a dynamic interplay of solid colors and patterned surfaces, suggesting a textured fabric and light reflections without resorting to traditional representation. The inclusion of letters and numbers, partially visible in the composition, might suggest labels or printed material that often found their way into Cubist works, emphasizing their connection to contemporary life. Gris’ meticulous composition and the balance between abstraction and recognizability demonstrate his interpretation of Synthetic Cubism, where simpler shapes and brighter colors were used compared to the earlier phase of Cubism. Overall, this work exemplifies Gris’ commitment to structure and clarity within the Cubist framework.
