The artwork “Glass and Card” by Georges Braque dates to circa 1913 and originates from France. It is rendered in oil on canvas and embodies the principles of Synthetic Cubism. The piece measures 26.7 by 34.9 centimeters and falls under the genre of still life. Currently, it is housed within a private collection.
The artwork presents a complex composition of geometric shapes and fragmented objects interlocking and overlapping with each other, defying traditional perspectives. A muted palette is primarily used, with subtle shifts in color that underscore the work’s compositional harmony despite its fragmented nature. The interplay of light and shadow, as well as the juxtaposition of different textures, contributes to the sense of depth within the otherwise flat picture plane characteristic of Cubist works. Braque’s use of the oval format is rather unique and adds to the cohesiveness of the scene, guiding the viewer’s eye through the orchestrated chaos of fragmented reality. The synthetic phase of Cubism, as exemplified by this work, often incorporated real materials, such as paper, into the painting, but it is unclear without closer inspection whether such elements are present in this painting.