1914 Nature morte avec fruits, verre et journal Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1908-1918

The composition presents a fragmented still life arranged on a low, scalloped surface that runs across the lower edge of the canvas. The objects are not rendered realistically; instead, they appear as deconstructed forms, overlapping and intersecting in a manner that defies conventional perspective. A glass vessel, partially visible, is positioned near the left side, its form broken into angular segments. Adjacent to it, a yellow-orange shape, possibly representing fruit or another organic element, juts out diagonally.
A prominent feature of the work is a large, rectangular banner bearing fragmented text – JOURNAL can be discerned. This textual element dominates the right portion of the canvas and introduces an immediate layer of symbolic complexity. The lettering’s disrupted appearance suggests censorship, obfuscation, or perhaps a commentary on the unreliable nature of information.
The color palette is dominated by muted greens, yellows, reds, and browns, applied in a textured manner that contributes to the overall sense of fragmentation. A stippled effect is visible across several areas, adding visual interest and further disrupting any illusion of depth. The background itself appears as a flat plane, furthering the flattening of space characteristic of this artistic approach.
Beyond the immediate depiction of objects, the painting seems to explore themes of disruption and instability. The shattered forms and obscured text could be interpreted as reflections of a world undergoing profound change – a sense of societal upheaval or impending crisis. The still life genre, traditionally associated with tranquility and domesticity, is here subverted, transformed into an image that conveys tension and uncertainty. The presence of the newspaper fragment suggests a direct engagement with current events, hinting at anxieties surrounding communication and truth in a turbulent era. The overall effect is one of deliberate disorientation, challenging the viewer to actively reconstruct meaning from the scattered elements presented.