“Rooftops at Ceret” is a notable work by Georges Braque, created in 1911. Presently housed in a private collection, the artwork is a cityscape rendered in oil on canvas and measures 88.2 by 64.8 cm. This piece stands as a quintessential example of Analytical Cubism, an avant-garde movement that Braque co-founded, which deconstructed objects into geometrical shapes and presented them from multiple viewpoints.
The artwork depicts a fragmented and abstracted view of a town, presumably Ceret, with interlocking planes and geometric shapes that suggest the forms of rooftops, houses, and the natural structures that surround them. The color palette is somewhat subdued, featuring a range of grays, browns, and ochres that give the composition a cohesive and harmonious feel despite the complexity of its fragmented forms. Brushwork appears meticulous, contributing to the textured surfaces that add depth and dynamism to the canvas. The overarching composition refrains from providing a conventional sense of perspective, instead offering viewers a restructured visual experience that is both analytical and poetic, encouraging contemplation of form and space beyond the traditional portrayal of urban landscapes.
