1912 Bouteille de Bass et guitare Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1908-1918

The composition presents a fragmented still life, rendered in a style that dismantles traditional perspective and spatial coherence. Here we see a collection of geometric forms – predominantly rectangles, trapezoids, and angular planes – arranged across the canvas without adhering to any recognizable depth or vanishing point. The artist has employed a limited palette; hues of ochre, pale pink, blue-grey, and muted green are juxtaposed against areas of white, creating a sense of visual tension and ambiguity.
The arrangement suggests identifiable objects, though their representation is highly abstracted. A cylindrical form, likely intended as a bottle, occupies the central space, its contours broken down into intersecting planes. To its left, an elongated shape with swirling lines hints at a guitar’s body, while a series of fragmented lines and angles might represent the instruments neck. The word BAS is inscribed centrally, seemingly affixed to one of the geometric blocks, adding a layer of textual presence that disrupts any illusionistic reading.
The work seems less concerned with depicting objects realistically than with exploring their constituent forms and how they interact within a flattened pictorial space. The overlapping planes create an effect of simultaneity; different viewpoints appear to be presented at once, challenging the viewers perception of depth and solidity. This fragmentation suggests a deconstruction of reality, a move away from mimetic representation towards a more conceptual exploration of form and structure.
Subtly, there’s a sense of melancholy or quiet contemplation conveyed through the muted color scheme and the disjunction between the elements. The fractured nature of the objects could be interpreted as reflecting a broader societal fragmentation, perhaps hinting at anxieties surrounding modernity and industrialization. The inclusion of BAS – potentially an abbreviation for a brand name – introduces a commercial element that further complicates the works meaning, blurring the lines between art and everyday life. Ultimately, the painting resists easy interpretation, inviting viewers to engage with its formal qualities and contemplate the nature of representation itself.