The artwork “Still Life at the Open Window” was created by the artist Juan Gris in the year 1925. It is an exquisite representation of the Synthetic Cubism art movement, specifically within the genre of still life. The artwork currently resides within a private collection. Being a product of Cubism, the piece deconstructs and reassembles various elements of everyday life to play with perspective and depict objects from multiple viewpoints simultaneously.
In this artwork, Gris offers a complex array of geometric shapes and overlapping planes that converge to imply the three-dimensional objects within a two-dimensional space. At first glance, the viewer may discern a tabletop on which rest assorted objects — possibly a book, a piece of fruit, sheets of music, and other geometric forms that suggest additional, unidentifiable items. The open window element is prominent: it offers a contrast between the interior space and what appears to be a glimpse of the outside world. The use of shading and carefully chosen colors contributes to the illusion of depth and light within the composition, despite the abstract representation. Gris’s meticulous attention to detail and his interplay of texture and form result in a captivating still life that exemplifies the innovative spirit of Synthetic Cubism.
