Your cart is empty.
You need to buy things!
You need to buy things!
Juan Gris: A Deep Dive into the Heart of Synthetic Cubism!
You thought you knew everything about Cubism with Picasso and Braque? Let me introduce you to the man Picasso himself somewhat feared: Juan Gris. 🔥 At Alhuilesurtoile.com, we celebrate this genius by adding over 200 of his works to our catalog. Hold on tight, we’re taking a deep and sensual dive into the world of Synthetic Cubism.
Who really was Juan Gris?
Born in Madrid as José Victoriano González-Pérez, Juan Gris studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in Madrid and earned a living as an illustrator for satirical publications. But Spain was too small for his ambition. In 1906, at the age of 19, he sold all his belongings to move to Paris, the beating heart of the global avant-garde. He settled in the Bateau-Lavoir, the mythical Montmartre building, penniless but rich in talent. It was there that he became not only the neighbor but also the friend and rival of a certain Pablo Picasso.
Fantômas (1915)
Synthetic Cubism: Rebuilding Reality
While Picasso and Braque’s Analytical Cubism broke down objects to the point of near abstraction, Gris initiated the next phase: Synthetic Cubism. The principle? No longer starting from the object to fragment it, but starting from pure geometric forms to build, or rather *synthesize*, the object’s image. He reintroduced bright color, textures (sometimes by gluing newspaper or wallpaper, the papier collé technique), and created more legible, bolder, and incredibly modern compositions.
Carafe and Book (1920)
Portrait of Madame Josette Gris (1916)
Landscape at Céret (1913)
Fun anecdotes to shine at parties...
- Respected and feared by Picasso: The great art dealer Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler revealed that Juan Gris was "the only painter of whom Picasso was a little jealous." Picasso himself, recognizing the purity of his art, allegedly said: "Matisse makes drawings, so does Derain, so does Braque... but Juan Gris, he is a painter." A vibrant tribute that speaks volumes.
- The architect of the canvas: Gris was so meticulous that he compared his compositions to "flat, colored architecture." Before touching a brush, he would draw diagrams, calculate his proportions, ensuring that every element was in perfect harmony. This cerebral approach was his signature.
A universe of transcended objects
Gris excelled at transforming the mundane into the sublime. His favorite themes, such as musical instruments, still lifes, or café scenes, become icons of modernity under his brush.
Pierrot with a Guitar (1922)
Still Life Before an Open Window (1915)
Captivated? Now it’s your turn to own a piece of history.
All the rigor and poetry of this major artist are now within your reach. Our expert painters reproduce each masterpiece in oil on canvas with breathtaking fidelity.