“The Glass of Lilac” is an artwork by Georges Braque, a distinguished artist renowned for his contribution to the development of Cubism alongside Pablo Picasso. Completed in 1946 in France, this oil on canvas expresses the tenets of Expressionism through its still-life genre. The piece is part of a private collection, rendering it an intimate example of Braque’s work amidst the broader artistic movements of the time.
The artwork itself presents a vibrant and emotive rendition of a still life, featuring a bouquet of lilac flowers in a slender vase. The backdrop is saturated with a warm yellow hue, which creates a striking contrast against the purple and green tones of the bouquet. Braque’s brushwork provides texture and visual interest, particularly noticeable in the way the light seems to dance across the petals and leaves, and the reflective properties of the vase. The composition includes fragmented elements of color and form, which are indicative of Braque’s exploration in Cubism but painted with a sensibility towards Expressionism, capturing more of the emotional experience rather than just the physical fragmentation. The juxtaposition of colors and shapes suggests a layering of space and gives the painting a dimensionality that invites the viewer to examine the interplay between objects and their surroundings. The use of color and gestural brushstrokes emphasizes the emotional resonance of the scene, aligning with the goals of Expressionism to elicit an affective response from the audience.