The artwork titled “Table in a Cafe (Bottle of Pernod)” is a creation by the celebrated artist Pablo Picasso, completed in the year 1912. It is executed in oil on canvas and exemplifies the principles of Analytical Cubism, an art movement with which Picasso was intimately associated. This still life painting forms part of the collection housed at the Hermitage Museum located in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Analyzing the artwork, one observes the distinctive fragmentation and geometric reconfiguration that are hallmarks of Analytical Cubism. The composition presents a table setting, presumably within a cafe, where elements intersect and overlap in a muted palette. The objects on the table, which likely include the mentioned bottle of Pernod—an anise-flavored spirit popular in the early 20th century—are depicted through a series of planes and angles that challenge traditional perspectives. Visible are fragmented letters and words, including what appears to be the word “Pernod” itself, which suggests the presence of labels or printed materials within the scene. These textual elements contribute to the intricate play between reality and its representation, a theme central to Cubist theory and practice. The forms, flattened and reassembled from various viewpoints, invite the viewer to dissect and interpret the scene actively, rather than passively consuming a preconceived visual narrative.
