1947 Volaille et couteau sur une table Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1943-1961

The composition presents a still life arrangement rendered in a fractured and angular style. A table surface dominates the lower portion of the canvas, its form delineated by stark lines and planes that suggest a rectangular shape. Upon this table rest two primary subjects: a fowl and a knife. The fowl is depicted with an unsettling combination of geometric simplification and distorted features; it appears as a collection of sharp angles and fragmented shapes rather than a recognizable bird. Its head, in particular, exhibits a stylized quality, with large, dark eyes that convey a sense of detached observation or perhaps even menace.
The knife, positioned to the right of the fowl, is also abstracted into geometric forms. A splash of red near its blade introduces a jarring element of violence and potential disruption within the otherwise muted palette. The background is rendered in a warm, earthy tone, providing a contrast to the darker hues used for the subjects themselves. This backdrop does not offer depth or perspective; instead, it serves as a flat plane against which the objects are presented.
The artist’s use of line and form creates a sense of unease and disorientation. The sharp angles and fragmented shapes deny any easy reading of the scene, challenging conventional notions of representation. There is an ambiguity to the fowls posture; it seems both present and absent, vulnerable yet somehow imposing.
Subtextually, the work appears to explore themes of mortality and transformation. The fowl, a symbol often associated with sacrifice or sustenance, is presented in a manner that strips away its natural beauty and reduces it to an assemblage of geometric components. This process suggests a deconstruction of life itself, hinting at the fragility and impermanence inherent within existence. The knife, as a tool of both creation and destruction, reinforces this sense of duality. It implies potential for change, but also carries with it connotations of violence and loss.
The overall effect is one of controlled tension; the seemingly simple arrangement of objects belies a complex interplay of symbolic meaning and formal innovation.