The artwork entitled “Still life with bottle of Anis del Mono” was created by renowned artist Pablo Picasso in 1909. This piece is notable for being a part of the Analytical Cubism movement, an avant-garde art movement pioneered by Picasso and Georges Braque. Characterized by its still life genre, the artwork exemplifies the deconstruction of objects into geometric forms and the use of monochromatic colors, which are hallmarks of Analytical Cubism.
In the artwork, Picasso deconstructs the shape and form of a bottle of Anis del Mono—a popular Spanish anise-flavored liquor—alongside other elements that constitute the still life composition. There is a noticeable fragmentation of space and volume, enabling a multi-faceted viewpoint of the objects depicted. The palette is restrained, employing shades of brown, green, and grey, which allow for a complex interplay of light and shadow. This intricate arrangement dissolves the conventional boundaries of form and perspective, encouraging the viewer to interpret the piece in a more abstract manner. Through the use of intersecting planes and angles, Picasso challenges traditional perceptions of depth and dimensionality, inviting a more intellectual engagement with the representation of three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional canvas.
