1916 Guitare, clarinette et bouteille sur une table Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1908-1918

The composition presents a still life arrangement rendered in a fractured and fragmented style. A guitar dominates the central space, its form deconstructed into geometric planes that overlap and intersect. The instrument is not depicted realistically; instead, it appears as a collection of shapes – rectangles, trapezoids, and angular segments – arranged to suggest its overall configuration. A clarinet and what seems to be a bottle are also present, though their forms are similarly abstracted and integrated within the larger geometric structure.
The background is divided into distinct blocks of color – blues, greens, browns, and yellows – which further contribute to the sense of spatial ambiguity. These planes do not create depth in a traditional manner; rather, they flatten the picture plane, emphasizing the two-dimensionality of the canvas. A dark, almost black area occupies the lower portion of the painting, acting as a grounding element while simultaneously creating a visual barrier between the objects and the viewer.
Embedded within the guitar’s surface are textual elements – fragments of letters and words that appear to be integrated into the painted structure. These inscriptions, partially legible, seem to read VIEW and MAR, adding another layer of complexity to the work. Their placement suggests a deliberate incorporation of language as an element of visual form rather than conveying a specific narrative.
The overall effect is one of intellectual analysis rather than emotional expression. The artist seems less concerned with representing objects in a recognizable way and more interested in exploring their underlying structure through geometric reduction. This approach implies a questioning of traditional perspective and representation, suggesting a shift towards a new visual language that prioritizes conceptual understanding over mimetic accuracy. The deliberate disruption of form and the incorporation of textual elements hint at an engagement with ideas about perception, meaning, and the nature of artistic creation itself.