Glassware - Still-Life with a Porro by Pablo Picasso

A great domestic sobriety characterizes this intimate still life which is fully part of the formal research and simplicity of the Spanish pictorial tradition. At the heart of this meticulous study of everyday objects, the sumptuous canvas named “Glassware - Still-Life with a Porro” reflects the sensitivity of Picasso Pablo. The artist sublimes ordinary utensils by focusing his attention on the balance of masses and the raw truth of the material.

The composition groups four distinct rustic objects arranged on a rustic brown wooden table in the foreground. On the left side, a slender carafe contains a very luminous amber liquid, while beside it stands a large Spanish porron made of transparent glass filled with dark red wine. Toward the right, a terracotta bowl with its lid sits next to a large grey ceramic vase whose outlines are softened by cast shadows. A small dark rectangular case rests in the foreground. The neutral and textured grey-blue wall background beautifully highlights the warm and cold tones of the different containers illuminated by a soft light.

The craftsman’s technical virtuosity is expressed in the exceptional rendering of glass transparency and the rough textures of the pottery. The subtle use of oil painting makes it possible to obtain realistic nuances of light that bear witness to great manual skill and traditional artisanal craftsmanship.