The artwork “Glasses and Bottle” by Georges Braque, created in 1912 in France, is an exemplary piece of Analytical Cubism, measuring 73 cm by 54 cm. Executed in oil on canvas, this still life depicts common objects abstracted through geometric fragmentation. It is currently held in a private collection.
In this work, Braque deconstructs and reassembles the subject matter to interrogate the very nature of visual perception. The palette is predominantly muted, with shades of brown, gray, and ochre, and it eschews the traditional perspective, instead employing multiple viewpoints. This technique was pivotal in advancing the Cubist movement, as it presents the viewer with a simultaneous, multi-faceted experience of the depicted objects. Despite the abstract representation, hints of the glasses and bottle can be discerned from the overlapping planes and shapes.
Braque often incorporated stenciled letters and fragmented elements to add a layer of complexity to the composition, blurring the distinction between text and texture. This intricate arrangement of shapes and subtle interplay of light and shadow compels viewers to reconstruct the scene mentally, thereby engaging them in a dialogue between the artwork and their perception.