Bodegón Cubista 1917

María Blanchard made this Cubist still life, Bodegón Cubista, with paint, but when and where I don’t know! I love that she’s not trying to trick us with illusionism, you can see how each color is laid down next to the other, building up a sense of form without blending, a real ‘look what I can do’ kind of attitude. There’s something so great about the flatness of the picture plane. It's not trying to be a window, it's right there with you, like a real object in the world. The way she's defined the forms with simple blocks of color, the planes next to each other creating edges, but somehow not quite joining up, it's all part of the game. Look at the way that salmon pink circle is framed by black, like a dark shadow hovering just behind it. Blanchard reminds me of Juan Gris in her commitment to Cubism. It’s all about embracing uncertainty and celebrating the joy of making.