Still Life 1916

This 'Still Life' is a painting by Juan Gris and looks like it's been constructed with oil on canvas. The muted palette of greys and browns feels like a dance of tones, creating a play of light and shadow. I wonder what Gris was thinking as he built up this picture plane, faceting the guitar and the surrounding forms. I can imagine him stepping back, squinting, and then leaning in again to refine each plane. It’s like he’s trying to find the essence of the instrument, not just its surface appearance. The surface texture is particularly interesting here. The paint seems thinly applied in some areas, allowing the canvas texture to peek through. The careful construction of the planes and tonal variations make me think of Cezanne, but also of the later abstract painters like Mondrian. I think that this cubist approach to form is really a conversation across time. Each artist riffs off what came before, bringing their own voice and vision to the ongoing dialogue of painting.