The artwork titled “The Book of Music” was created by the artist Juan Gris in 1922. This piece, executed in oil on canvas, measures 96 by 61.5 centimeters and belongs to the still life genre. It is characteristic of the Synthetic Cubism movement. Currently, this work is housed in a private collection.
In the artwork, one is greeted with a composition that employs geometric abstraction to deconstruct and reassemble its subject matter, a signature style of Synthetic Cubism. Two central elements dominate the composition: what appears to be the body of a stringed instrument, such as a guitar, and a book visibly labeled “MUSIQUE.” Their forms are fragmented and overlaid, creating a sense of depth through the interplay of shapes and colors.
A muted palette featuring shades of brown, grey, and off-white creates a harmonious balance, while selective use of color contrast accentuates certain features, like the yellowish-brown of an implied table or the newspaper cut-out at the base of the composition. The guitar, with its characteristic curves and strings, is dissected into geometric forms, while the book’s pages and cover are suggested by overlapping planes. The elements around these two focal points, such as a glass, a bottle, and additional papers or cutouts, further emphasize the collage-like approach that Gris applied to his canvas, a hallmark of the Synthetic Cubist technique. Through the intricate arrangement of shapes, Gris invites viewers to reconstruct the still life scene in their minds, hinting at the rich auditory and cultural references associated with the objects depicted.
