1920 Guitare et compotier sur une table Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1919-1930

The composition presents a fragmented still life arranged within a rectangular frame. A guitar dominates the central space, its form deconstructed into geometric planes and angular shapes. The instruments body is rendered in warm ochre tones intersected by vertical lines suggesting strings or structural elements. Above it, a bowl of fruit – or what appears to be one – is similarly abstracted, composed of overlapping blocks of red-brown and cream hues.
The artist employs a limited palette primarily consisting of earth tones – browns, yellows, creams – punctuated by areas of blue that provide visual contrast and depth. The use of color is not representational; instead, it serves to define the planes and volumes within the composition. Lines are stark and decisive, outlining shapes with precision while contributing to the overall sense of fragmentation.
The arrangement feels deliberately flattened, eschewing traditional perspective in favor of a simultaneous presentation of multiple viewpoints. This technique disrupts any illusion of three-dimensionality, emphasizing the two-dimensional nature of the surface. The objects depicted appear not as they are perceived in reality but rather as conceptual constructs, reduced to their essential geometric components.
Subtly embedded within this formal structure is an underlying sense of melancholy or introspection. The fractured forms and muted colors evoke a feeling of isolation and detachment. The guitar, traditionally associated with music and emotional expression, appears here silenced, its voice broken into discrete segments. Similarly, the bowl of fruit, a common symbol of abundance and nourishment, seems diminished by its geometric reduction.
The overall effect is one of intellectual rigor combined with an underlying emotional resonance. It suggests a deliberate attempt to explore the nature of perception, representation, and the relationship between form and feeling.