Pianista 1919

María Blanchard’s "Pianista" is an oil painting that shows us how the artist plays with geometry. Blanchard is thinking about how we see the world as she reduces the pianist and his surroundings into simplified shapes and muted colors. Look at how the pianist’s hands are rendered as a series of red and pink rectangles. Her approach gives them a sense of dynamism, as if they're caught in the act of pressing the keys. The keys, themselves, aren’t simply black and white, but a mix of shades, which creates a sense of depth and movement. Blanchard’s Cubist style reminds me of Juan Gris. However, I think Blanchard is doing her own thing by using Cubism to explore the tactile experience of playing music, inviting us to see—and almost feel—the music as it comes to life. The painting has an openness that allows for multiple interpretations, making the artwork more engaging.