The artwork “Glass and Bottle of Suze” was created in 1912 by renowned artist Pablo Picasso. This piece is a testament to Picasso’s involvement with Synthetic Cubism, an art movement characterized by the incorporation of different textures, surfaces, and collage elements into compositions. The work is executed using a variety of mediums, including charcoal, collage, gouache, and cardboard, which together contribute to its rich texture and complex visual narrative. The artwork is a still life, measuring 64 x 50 cm, and it currently resides at the Washington University Gallery of Art in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
In the artwork, Picasso depicts a fragmented yet discernible scene that includes a glass and a bottle, where the latter bears the label “SUZE,” signifying a popular French aperitif of the time. Employing an assemblage of newspaper clippings, wallpaper patterns, and painted areas, Picasso creates a sense of depth and space whilst challenging the conventions of traditional representation. The background is largely comprised of newspaper, a choice suggesting commentary on contemporary culture or perhaps simply an aesthetic preference for the textural effect it offers. The palette is relatively subdued, with earthy tones and subtle blues, yet this restraint emphasizes the composition’s structural elements, focusing attention on the interplay of shapes and materials. True to the ethos of Synthetic Cubism, the artwork invites viewers to parse its layered surfaces, exploring the interplay between the literal cut-and-pasted elements and the artist’s more traditional rendering of space and form.
