Violin and guitar, 1913, 100x65.5 cm, The Colin Collect Juan Gris (1887-1927)

The composition presents a still life arrangement rendered in a fractured and fragmented style. Two musical instruments – a violin and a guitar – are centrally positioned, though their forms are not readily discernible due to the artists deconstruction of perspective and shape. The objects appear disassembled into geometric planes, overlapping and intersecting with one another.
A palette dominated by earthy tones – ochre, brown, grey – is punctuated by flashes of red, green, and yellow. These colors do not function representationally; instead, they contribute to the overall sense of visual disruption and complexity. The application of paint appears deliberate, with sharp edges delineating the planes and creating a sense of angularity.
The background is similarly fragmented, suggesting an interior space defined by vertical bands of color – primarily green – and horizontal lines that may represent architectural elements or drapery. These elements are not depicted realistically but rather as flattened surfaces contributing to the overall abstract quality of the work.
A subtle interplay between light and shadow further enhances the sense of depth and volume, despite the flattening effect of the fractured forms. The artist seems less interested in depicting a faithful representation of reality than in exploring the possibilities of visual perception and spatial relationships.
Subtly embedded within the geometric structure are hints of figurative elements – a suggestion of a face or profile emerging from the planes of the guitar, for example. These fleeting glimpses introduce an element of ambiguity, blurring the boundaries between abstraction and figuration. The presence of musical instruments suggests themes of harmony, creativity, and perhaps even melancholy, though these associations remain open to interpretation within the context of the work’s formal innovations. Ultimately, the painting invites a re-evaluation of how we perceive objects and space, challenging conventional notions of representation.