1952 CrГne de chКvre, bouteille et bougie Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1943-1961

The composition presents a fragmented still life rendered in monochrome shades of gray and white. Here we observe a figure, seemingly human, occupying the left portion of the canvas. Its form is deconstructed into angular planes and sharp edges, defying conventional representation. The face, if it can be called that, is reduced to simplified geometric shapes – an eye suggested by two curved lines and a triangular form hinting at a nose.
To the right of this figure sits what appears to be a bottle or vessel, also broken down into facets. Its contours are ambiguous, blending with the surrounding space in a manner that obscures its precise shape. A small flame, presumably from a candle, flickers near the bottle’s opening, providing a single point of visual warmth within the otherwise cool palette.
The objects rest upon a table or surface delineated by a horizontal plane which itself is fractured and tilted, contributing to the overall sense of instability and disorientation. The background is similarly fragmented, composed of intersecting planes that create an illusion of depth while simultaneously flattening the pictorial space.
The artist’s choice of monochrome reinforces the paintings somber mood and emphasizes the formal elements – line, shape, and plane – over coloristic nuance. This reduction to essentials suggests a deliberate attempt to explore the underlying structure of form, rather than its superficial appearance. The disjointed arrangement of objects and the distorted representation of the figure evoke feelings of alienation and psychological tension.
Subtly, one might interpret this as an exploration of perception itself – how we construct meaning from fragmented information and how our understanding of reality can be fractured or manipulated. The ambiguity inherent in the forms allows for multiple interpretations, resisting a singular, definitive reading. The work seems to question the nature of representation and the reliability of visual experience.