“Violin and Glass,” created circa 1912 in France by Georges Braque, is a distinguished artwork of the Synthetic Cubism period. It was crafted using charcoal and oil on canvas, with dimensions measuring 116 x 81 cm. This still life can be found at the Kunstmuseum Basel in Basel, Switzerland, depicting a composition that exemplifies the innovative approach of Cubism, where objects are broken up, analyzed, and reassembled in an abstracted form.
The artwork presents a complex interplay of geometric shapes and fragmented objects that challenge traditional perspectives. The subject matter, while rooted in the everyday – a violin and glass – is deconstructed into a series of interlocking planes. Subtle tonal gradations and the interplay of line and form create a sense of depth and spatial ambiguity. Braque’s meticulous use of charcoal combined with restrained oil coloration contributes to the overall muted palette, which emphasizes the structural qualities of the composition over chromatic diversity. The oval canvas adds a further element of distinction, framing the composition in an unconventional manner. The synthetic aspect of the artwork—its construction from shapes and signs rather than the depiction of objects as they appear in reality—marks a departure from Braque’s earlier Analytic Cubist works, moving towards a greater emphasis on shape and color.
