1941 Nature morte 2 Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The composition presents a still life arranged on a dark table surface. A vase, centrally positioned, holds a cluster of flowers rendered in fragmented forms and a limited palette of red, green, and white. The floral arrangement appears almost architectural in its construction, with sharp angles and geometric shapes dominating the visual field.
Behind the vase, a window is suggested through planes of color – ochre, brown, and grey – creating an ambiguous space that lacks depth or perspective. These planes do not function as a realistic depiction of a window but rather contribute to the overall fractured quality of the scene. The light source seems diffuse, casting no distinct shadows and flattening the forms.
Two pale yellow spheres rest on the table surface in front of the vase. Their rounded shapes offer a contrast to the angularity of the other elements, yet they too are simplified and lack detail.
The color scheme is restrained, relying heavily on earth tones – browns, ochres, reds – punctuated by the green and white of the flowers and the pale yellow of the spheres. This limited palette contributes to a sense of austerity and emotional distance. The brushwork appears deliberate, with visible strokes that emphasize the two-dimensionality of the canvas.
The arrangement feels less like an observation of nature and more like a construction – a formal exploration of shape, color, and space. The fragmentation of forms suggests a deconstruction of traditional still life conventions, hinting at a focus on the underlying structure rather than representational accuracy. There is a sense of melancholy or quiet contemplation evoked by the subdued colors and the deliberate simplification of objects. The work seems to explore themes of memory, loss, or perhaps the fragility of beauty through its fractured presentation.