1914 Nature morte au verre et Е la pomme Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1908-1918

The composition presents a still life arrangement rendered in a restrained palette of browns, greens, whites, and grays. A tall glass dominates the central space, its reflective surface distorting and fragmenting the background into a mosaic of muted tones. The artist has employed a technique that emphasizes geometric forms; the glass is not depicted realistically but rather as a series of planes intersecting at sharp angles.
To the left of the glass sits a rectangular form in green, which appears to be a cloth or draped object. Beneath it lies a halved fruit – likely an apple – its pale flesh contrasting with the darker hues surrounding it. A crumpled white cloth drapes across the lower portion of the composition, adding texture and further obscuring the underlying surface. In the upper left corner, a smaller, more delicate glass is visible, partially obscured by the larger form.
The arrangement feels deliberately constructed, lacking any sense of casualness. The objects are positioned in relation to one another not for their inherent beauty but as elements within an overall formal structure. Theres a deliberate flattening of space; depth cues are minimal and perspective appears ambiguous. This contributes to a feeling of detachment and abstraction.
Subtly, the work seems to explore themes of perception and representation. The glass’s reflective surface highlights the difficulty in accurately capturing reality – it is a mirror that simultaneously reveals and obscures. The fragmented nature of the objects suggests a breakdown of traditional forms, hinting at an underlying instability or impermanence. The muted color scheme reinforces this sense of quiet contemplation rather than vibrant display. Its possible to interpret the composition as a meditation on the fragility of existence, conveyed through the careful arrangement of commonplace objects.