Botella Y Frutero Sobre Una Mesa 1918

María Blanchard made this still life, Botella Y Frutero Sobre Una Mesa, with oil on canvas, using a method of fragmenting objects into geometric forms. The colors are earthy—browns, reds, greens, and yellows—but they vibrate with a kind of internal tension. It’s like she's not just painting what she sees, but how she sees, in blocks of colour. Look closely at the white line that traces the outline of the bottle; it’s not just a line, it’s a shape, a positive form in itself. The paint has a matte texture, almost chalky, which gives the painting a tactile quality. Blanchard’s process isn't concealed; it’s laid bare for us to see and feel. This reminds me a little of Juan Gris who was also working in the cubist style, but Blanchard brings a certain emotional intensity that’s all her own. Ultimately, this painting refuses to be pinned down; it’s a space of shifting perspectives, a testament to the power of art to embrace ambiguity.