1936 Compotier de poires Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Period of creation: 1931-1942

The composition presents a still life arrangement rendered in a fractured and abstracted style. Two bowls dominate the central space; their forms are not realistically depicted but rather constructed from intersecting planes and angular shapes. One bowl contains what appear to be pears, identifiable by their characteristic rounded form despite the distortion of perspective. The other holds a cluster of dark-colored fruit, possibly plums or grapes, alongside a single leaf.
The color palette is restrained, primarily utilizing muted greens, blues, whites, and grays. These colors are applied in broad strokes, contributing to the overall sense of fragmentation. A horizontal band runs across the lower portion of the canvas, acting as a grounding element while also reinforcing the flattened perspective. The background is a pale, almost monochromatic expanse that lacks depth, further emphasizing the two-dimensionality of the scene.
The artist’s approach suggests an interest in deconstructing and reassembling familiar objects. The pears are not simply represented; they are analyzed into their constituent geometric components. This process extends to the bowls themselves, which lose any sense of conventional volume or curvature.
Beyond a purely formal exercise, the work seems to explore themes of perception and representation. By dismantling recognizable forms, the artist invites viewers to reconsider how we understand and interpret the world around us. The deliberate distortion introduces an element of ambiguity; the objects are present but elusive, their meaning open to interpretation. Theres a sense of melancholy or quiet contemplation evoked by the subdued colors and fragmented composition – a stillness that transcends the simple depiction of fruit in bowls.