The Garden 1916

Juan Gris created "The Garden", of which the exact date is unknown, using oil on canvas. As a Spanish artist working in Paris during the early 20th century, Gris was at the heart of cubist innovation. In "The Garden," we see Gris's negotiation between representation and abstraction. The wrought iron and the implied garden present themes of enclosure and nature, mirroring the restricted freedoms and longing for the pastoral that many felt during the interwar period. The darker tones which frame the periphery contrasts with the open sky, creating a deep sense of perspective. Gris often spoke of his desire to move beyond mere imitation, aiming instead to construct a reality through his art. Reflect on how Gris's constructed reality invites us to consider our relationship to the spaces we inhabit and the natural world we sometimes idealize.