Fruit Dish on a Checkered Tablecloth., Juan Gris, November 1917

Still lifes figure prominently in gris' oeuvre. The artist's collage technique is reflected in the placing of compositional elements and in the overlapping planes. In the characteristically colorful fruit dish on a check tablecloth, the white area in the center and adjacent zones of bright green and pale pink are set off against a dark background compromised of various hues. The stylized pink and white checks introduce patterns of rectangles and ovals over the entire canvas. Fragmentation of objects and ornamental patterning create a complexity of design that is visually and intellectually satisfying. Gris' work is based on a schematic organization of color values and a strong sense of logic. Object Type: painting. Genre: still life. Date: November 1917. Dimensions: height: 80.6 cm (31.7 in); width: 53.9 cm (21.2 in). Medium: oil on wood panel. Collection: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. GUGG Fruit Dish on a Checkered Tablecloth