1917 Nature morte1 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1908-1918

The composition presents a still life arrangement centered around several glass vessels. These objects occupy the middle ground of the canvas, seemingly resting on a surface that dissolves into a vibrant field of color. The artist has employed a pointillist technique throughout, constructing forms and surfaces with meticulously placed dots of varying hues.
Here we see a deliberate fragmentation of visual information. The glasses themselves are not rendered in a realistic manner; instead, they appear as collections of colored points that coalesce to suggest their shape. This approach diminishes the sense of solidity and depth, creating an almost shimmering effect where light seems to emanate from within the objects rather than reflecting off them.
The color palette is dominated by blues, greens, yellows, and reds, all applied in a manner that avoids clear tonal distinctions. The surface appears to vibrate with energy, as the eye struggles to reconcile individual dots into cohesive forms. This visual complexity contributes to an overall sense of instability and abstraction.
The dark border surrounding the composition serves to isolate the still life, intensifying its presence while simultaneously creating a void around it. It draws attention to the arrangement itself, emphasizing its artificiality and removing any contextual clues that might ground it in a specific setting.
Subtly, the work seems to explore the nature of perception. The artist is not interested in depicting objects as they appear objectively but rather in conveying how light and color are perceived through a fragmented visual experience. It suggests an investigation into the breakdown of traditional representation, hinting at a move towards a more subjective and abstract understanding of reality. The lack of clear spatial cues and the emphasis on pure color contribute to this sense of disorientation, inviting the viewer to actively participate in constructing meaning from the scattered elements presented.