The artwork “Still Life with Guitar” by Georges Braque is an oil on canvas dating from 1935, hailing from France. Measuring 80.9 by 116 cm, this piece is exemplary of the Cubist and Expressionist movements. As the genre suggests, the artwork is a still life and, as of the latest known information, it is held in a private collection.
The artwork portrays a tableaux of objects assembled in a manner characteristic of Cubism, with multiple perspectives depicted simultaneously. Central to the composition is the guitar, its form fragmented and reconstructed abstractly, permitting a visual interplay of shape and space. The palette employed is relatively subdued, with earth tones punctuated by areas of more saturated color, contributing to the overall harmony of the piece. Surrounding the guitar are additional elements such as a bottle and what appear to be other musical instruments or related paraphernalia, all of which are similarly deconstructed and faceted, further emphasizing the geometric formality integral to Cubism. This treatment of subject matter, whereby objects are broken down and analyzed in a complex, abstracted arrangement, is indicative of Braque’s sophisticated contribution to the avant-garde art of the early 20th century.