1925 Nature morte Е la tИte antique (Guitare, partition, compotier, buste de femme) Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1919-1930

The composition presents a still life arrangement rendered in a fractured and fragmented style. A dark, monolithic female head dominates the right side of the canvas, its features simplified into geometric planes and sharp angles. The face is turned slightly towards the viewer, yet an air of detachment pervades the expression.
To the left, a guitar lies on what appears to be a table or surface, also broken down into angular shapes. A sheet of music rests partially obscured by the instrument, its lines echoing the fragmented nature of the surrounding forms. Adjacent to the guitar sits a bowl – a compotier – whose contours are similarly distorted and abstracted.
The color palette is restrained, primarily utilizing shades of brown, beige, black, and white. This limited range contributes to a sense of austerity and reinforces the formal qualities of the work. The background is largely dark, creating a stark contrast with the lighter tones of the objects and figure, further emphasizing their geometric structure.
The arrangement seems deliberately staged, devoid of any naturalistic depth or perspective. Instead, the artist prioritizes the exploration of form and spatial relationships through a process of deconstruction and reassembly. The juxtaposition of musical instruments and a classical bust suggests themes of culture, history, and artistic creation. The female head, rendered in such an impersonal manner, might represent an archetype rather than an individual portrait, hinting at broader considerations about beauty, identity, and the human condition.
The overall effect is one of intellectual rigor and formal experimentation, where traditional notions of representation are challenged through a systematic reduction to essential shapes and volumes.