1908 Verre, pot et livre Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1908-1918

The composition presents a still life arrangement characterized by a deliberate flattening of perspective and a fractured approach to form. Here we see three distinct objects: a stemmed glass, a ceramic vessel, and what appears to be the corner of a book or rectangular object. The background is rendered in muted grey tones, providing a neutral backdrop against which the objects are positioned.
The color palette is restrained, dominated by ochre and yellow hues for the vessel and a pale, translucent quality for the glass. These colors contrast with the darker, more subdued tones of the background and the book’s corner. The artist employed a limited range of pigments, contributing to a sense of unity within the composition.
The objects are not depicted realistically; instead, their forms have been simplified and broken down into geometric planes. This fragmentation disrupts any illusion of depth or three-dimensionality. The glass, for instance, is represented by intersecting lines that suggest its transparency without fully defining its shape. Similarly, the vessel’s curves are reduced to a series of angular facets.
The arrangement itself seems arbitrary; theres no clear narrative or symbolic connection between the objects. They exist in a space devoid of context, suggesting an interest in exploring formal relationships rather than representational meaning. The placement of the book corner, partially obscured and angled away from direct view, introduces a sense of mystery and incompleteness.
Subtly, the painting evokes a feeling of quiet contemplation. The lack of dynamism or overt emotion encourages a prolonged visual engagement with the forms and colors. It is possible to interpret this as an exploration of perception itself – how we construct meaning from fragmented information and simplified representations. The deliberate ambiguity invites viewers to project their own interpretations onto the scene, making it less about what is depicted and more about the act of seeing.