Breakfast 1915

Juan Gris made 'Breakfast,' sometime in the early 20th century, using oil on canvas, and what grabs me right away is how he takes apart a simple scene and puts it back together in a way that feels totally new. Look at how the green objects are arranged, almost like a puzzle. The way Gris uses color is so interesting, not trying to mimic reality, but instead building up a sense of depth through flat planes of color. There's a section of the newspaper down there, labeled "Journal," where you can really see how the artist breaks everything into geometric shapes, yet it all comes together to suggest a very specific kind of morning moment. It’s like he’s having a conversation with Picasso and Braque, taking Cubism in his own direction. I think with Gris, like many great artists, there's a sense of embracing uncertainty and finding beauty in the unexpected.