The artwork “Maquette for Guitar” by Pablo Picasso dates to 1912 and signifies a pioneering piece in the realm of Synthetic Cubism. Utilizing a combination of collage, oil, and cardboard, the piece spans dimensions of 77.5 cm in height and 35 cm in width. While inherently a still life, it also bears sculptural qualities and is currently housed at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, NY, United States.
“Maquette for Guitar” exhibits Picasso’s avant-garde approach to the guitar’s form, breaking down its shape and reconstructing it in a manner that highlights both its structural essence and its aesthetic. The artwork features cardboard elements fragmented and rearranged, bound together by string and glue, evoking the suggestion of three-dimensional space on a flat surface. The choice of materials and the composition’s layered nature echo the principles of Synthetic Cubism, where familiar objects are synthesized from shapes and forms. Thus, through abstracted representation and engaging textures, Picasso challenges the conventional perception of both the object and the medium used in art.
