1908 Nature morte aux oignons Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1908-1918

The composition presents a still life arrangement dominated by onions and a metallic vessel. The artist has positioned these elements on what appears to be a table surface, which is rendered with a stark simplicity that emphasizes its flatness. A dark background, largely devoid of detail, serves to isolate the objects and intensify their presence.
Here we see an intentional fracturing of perspective. The forms are not presented in a conventional manner; instead, they appear as if viewed from multiple angles simultaneously. This technique disrupts any sense of spatial depth, flattening the picture plane and challenging traditional notions of representation. The onions themselves are depicted with a focus on their bulbous shapes, rendered through a series of overlapping planes and subtle tonal variations that suggest volume without adhering to realistic modeling.
The metallic container, situated behind and partially obscuring the onions, is similarly treated – its form broken down into geometric facets. Its surface reflects light in an ambiguous way, further contributing to the overall sense of visual disorientation. The color palette is restrained, primarily consisting of muted greens, whites, grays, and browns. This limited range reinforces the painting’s somber mood and contributes to a feeling of austerity.
Beyond the purely formal elements, the arrangement suggests themes of transience and decay. Onions, as perishable produce, inherently symbolize mortality and the passage of time. The artists deliberate deconstruction of form can be interpreted as an attempt to move beyond superficial appearances and explore the underlying structure of reality – a questioning of how we perceive and understand the world around us. The starkness of the composition, combined with its limited color range, evokes a sense of introspection and invites contemplation on the nature of existence itself.