The violin 1916

Juan Gris made this painting, ‘The Violin,’ with oil on canvas, sometime in the 1900s. It’s a world of grey and brown, sharp corners, and musical instruments – like a jazz symphony in visual form. I'm feeling for Gris here, imagining his process. Cubism isn't just about breaking things apart; it's about putting them back together in a new way, like a puzzle where the pieces don't quite fit. He’s probably thinking, how can I show you more than one angle at once? The violin, usually so curvy and sensual, is now faceted and angular. The keys of the piano are laid bare. It's like he's dissecting music itself! It puts me in mind of Picasso and Braque, his buddies in Paris. They were all riffing off each other. It’s a conversation, a jam session of ideas across time, inspiring and challenging each other’s visions. Like music itself, this painting offers multiple interpretations. There are no mistakes, only opportunities to discover something new.