Picasso, Large Still Life with Pedestal Table Lign

The original work from 1931

Now in the Musée National Picasso-Paris, this monumental oil on canvas (195 x 130.5 cm) is a testament to the Spanish artist's creative genius. The pictorial technique reveals an exceptional mastery of volume and perspective, characteristic of Picasso's mature Cubist style.

This monumental painting features recurring motifs in Pablo Picasso's still lifes: the three-legged pedestal table, the white fruit bowl with three fruits and the large yellow pot. Here, they are treated in a generous exuberance of round shapes and arabesques enclosing flat colours dominated by mauve and yellow.

The geometric shapes intermingle in a bold composition in which everyday objects transcend their original nature. The chromatic palette, dominated by earthy tones and luminous yellows, creates a vibrant atmosphere that enlivens the whole canvas. The particular treatment of volumes and the sophisticated arrangement of planes bear witness to a major artistic period in the master's work. This work marks a decisive moment in the development of modern pictorial language.

Certain details of the still life, such as the rounded forms, delicate curves and warm colours, discreetly evoke the silhouette and character of his muse Marie-Thérèse Walter. This subtle blend of still life and portrait reveals an intimate interplay between reality and abstraction.