1913 Guitare, crГne et journal Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1908-1918

The composition presents a still life arrangement rendered in a fractured and fragmented style. A guitar dominates the left side of the canvas; its form is abstracted into geometric planes, suggesting both its physical structure and a sense of deconstruction. The instruments strings are visible as thin lines, while the sound hole appears as an oval void within the wood grain.
To the right of the guitar, a newspaper or journal occupies a significant portion of the space. Its surface is covered in text, though the individual words are illegible due to the fragmented nature of its presentation. Only portions of letters – J and R – are discernible, hinting at a narrative that remains incomplete or obscured. The paper’s edges appear torn and irregular, contributing to the overall sense of disruption.
A metallic object, possibly a container or vessel, is positioned behind the guitar and partially obscures the newspaper. Its cylindrical form is rendered with muted tones, and a small sphere sits atop it, adding a subtle point of visual interest. The background consists of overlapping planes in shades of brown, gray, and black, creating a sense of depth while simultaneously flattening the pictorial space.
The color palette is restrained, primarily utilizing earth tones and grays, which reinforces the somber mood. The limited use of brighter colors – the yellow-ochre on the guitar’s upper section – serves to highlight specific elements within the composition.
Subtextually, the arrangement seems to explore themes of fragmentation, loss, and the ephemerality of human experience. The broken newspaper could symbolize a disrupted narrative or the decay of information. The presence of the guitar suggests music and artistic expression, but its fractured form implies a silencing or distortion of that creative impulse. The metallic object might represent containment or restriction. Overall, the work conveys a sense of melancholy and reflects a period marked by significant social and political upheaval, hinting at anxieties surrounding communication, cultural identity, and the fragility of established structures.