Awesome Artwork by Juan Gris

Spanish artist Juan Gris became a luminary in the Cubism art movement. By imprinting his signature style on the canvas, he became a vital force in Cubism.

In 1917 it was Guitar and Music Paper. As usual with Gris the canvas shows a symphony of shapes and the guitar ready to sing a Cubist song. Looking long at this artwork, the viewer might begin hearing visual melodies.

In 1925 Guitar and Newspaper was created. The guitar takes center stage, and the newspaper becomes the background. It is a Cubist journey of sight and sound.

Guitar on a Table makes one want to pick up the guitar and strum a tune. This painting makes the guitar the lead singer and the table its stage. Gris's favorite is the Spanish guitar, which occupies a significant position in this artwork as well. It is striking that Gris depicts the guitar with five instead of the usual six strings.

Harlequin with Guitar was created in 1919. The artist created a psychedelic carnival, making the harlequin a vibrant character and the painting a Cubist dance. This is a masterpiece that truly encapsulates Gris’s style. The Harlequin, a character from Italian Commedia dell’arte, symbolizes the artist and is a recurring figure in his artworks. The painting is filled with geometrical shapes, showcasing Gris’s precision.

The portrait of Juan Legua was created in 1915. Juan Legua is one of the artist’s earliest Cubist paintings and belongs to a series of pre-World War I portraits of close friends and acquaintances. Although Juan Legua is now believed to have been a pen name, the sitter on the canvas was initially recognized as a Spanish journalist residing in Paris. The artist breaks down faces as if he’s creating a Cubist mix, and the angles and geometric precision create a Cubist puzzle.

A Man in a Cafe was created in 1914. The man in the cafe is having his coffee and becoming a part of a Cubist creation.

The Musicians Table was created in 1912. The painting depicts a table with some instruments and sheet music on it. It appears by the colors and the shapes that the artist was composing a visual symphony. This is not a quiet still life; instead, it is a table ready to throw a jam session.

Portrait of Josette Gris was created in 1916. It is quite a creation with shapes and colors. Gris doesn’t just capture Josette’s features; he captures the essence of their connection. Josette Gris was Juan Gris' second companion and unofficial wife. In 1906, he moved to Paris and became friends with the poets Guillaume Apollinaire and Max Jacob and the artists Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Fernand Léger, and Jean Metzinger.

Completed in 1912, the Portrait of Pablo Picasso followed the movement of Cubism. The portrait makes visual remixes of Picasso’s features. The painting is a significant work in the Cubist movement. The artwork features Picasso depicted as a painter, holding a palette, which emphasizes his role as an innovator in the art world. The inscription at the bottom right, "Hommage à Pablo Picasso," reflects Gris's respect for him as a leader in the Parisian artistic circles.

Still Life with Checked Tablecloth, created in 1915, is a feast for the eyes of all the items upon the table. The artist pulls the viewer into a checkered carnival.  A table laden with grapes, a bottle of red wine, beer, a newspaper, and a guitar is depicted in this oil and graphite painting on canvas. Additionally, Gris’ interpretation of a bull’s head can be observed in the composite image created from these artifacts.

Still Life with a Guitar was completed in 1913. Gris makes this creation seem like a melody frozen in time and the guitar ready to strum. The play of light and shadow on the instrument and the angles create a visual harmony. It is another still life orchestrated by the artist to make a visual concert.

Violin and Checkerboard was created in 1913. Like in a Cubist duet, in this artwork the violin serenades the checkerboard. It appears that both objects have harmony with one another.