The Watch (The Sherry Bottle) 1912

Juan Gris made "The Watch (The Sherry Bottle)" using oil on canvas, like many of his Cubist still lifes. But with Gris, it’s not just about breaking things down; it’s about building them back up in a way that feels both familiar and totally new. Look at the way he uses color – muted tones, mostly, but with these surprising pops that jolt you awake. And the texture! You can almost feel the roughness of the canvas, the way the paint sits on the surface. He doesn't hide the process; it's all right there for you to see. Take the bottle with the label, Jerez. It's broken into facets, but there's a feeling of weight and roundness, like you could reach out and grab it. Gris was in conversation with Picasso and Braque, but he had his own thing going on. There’s an intellectual rigor, but also a playfulness that keeps you guessing. It's like he’s saying, "Art doesn’t have to be one thing. It can be all things, all at once."