Lulli 1919

Louis Marcoussis rendered this still life, titled 'Lulli,' with oil on canvas. Here, musical instruments and scores mingle with symbols of leisure. The guitar, prominently featured, is more than an object. It is a motif that stretches back through art history, evoking emotion. The very act of depicting instruments can be seen in ancient Greek pottery, continuing through Renaissance paintings, a cultural echo reverberating through the ages. The musical score bearing the name 'Lulli' leads us to Jean-Baptiste Lully, the composer for the court of Louis XIV. Lully’s compositions, filled with drama and passion, mirror the psychological intensity that we recognize in the fragmented forms of cubism. These are powerful symbols, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. And so, we find that the motif of music and festivity, reappears, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.