1907 Les Citrons Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1889-1907

The composition presents a still life arrangement rendered in pastel on paper. A table surface, delineated by strong blue and orange hues, serves as the foundation for the objects displayed. The artist has chosen to depict commonplace items: a bottle, a vessel, several lemons, and what appears to be a bowl or dish.
A striking characteristic is the fragmentation of forms. Each object isnt presented in a unified, recognizable manner; instead, they are broken down into geometric planes and facets. This approach disrupts traditional perspective and spatial relationships. The bottle, for instance, is not shown as a continuous cylinder but rather as a series of overlapping shapes suggesting its volume. Similarly, the vessel on the right appears to be constructed from angular segments, denying any smooth curvature.
The color palette contributes significantly to the overall effect. While yellows and oranges dominate in representing the lemons, they are juxtaposed with cooler tones – blues, greens, and purples – creating a visual tension. The background is similarly fragmented, employing broad swaths of orange and pink that dont offer depth but rather act as flat planes interacting with the foreground elements.
The artist’s handling of the pastel medium further enhances the sense of deconstruction. Visible strokes and textural variations emphasize the materiality of the work, preventing it from appearing overly polished or idealized. The lines are often hesitant, suggesting a process of observation and reconstruction rather than faithful representation.
Subtly, theres an exploration of perception at play. The viewer is invited not to see objects as they are, but as they might be perceived through multiple viewpoints simultaneously. This challenges the conventional understanding of form and space, hinting at a deeper investigation into how we construct our visual reality. The arrangement feels less like a celebration of everyday life and more like an analytical study of its constituent parts.