Pierrot 1919

Juan Gris painted this oil on canvas, Pierrot. Looking closely, we see the artist using the medium to its full potential. Oil paint is typically applied in layers, and Gris has used this to create a sense of depth and texture, making this painting visually interesting. The layering of colors is so artful that it almost feels like the Pierrot is constructed from segments of paper. Gris was deeply interested in the materiality of the world around him. Here he uses traditional materials to explore a non-traditional, modern style. The artwork's angular shapes and fragmented composition challenge traditional notions of representation. We can see that the artist is not simply depicting an image, but experimenting with the possibilities of paint as a medium, and how it can reflect and refract reality. The result is that Gris creates a unique and memorable image by taking the history of painting into account, and then moving confidently forward.