Open Window by Juan Gris

This masterpiece of rare sobriety by Juan Gris is fully in line with the formal rigor of synthetic cubism. The artist approaches here the classic theme of the opening onto the exterior by composing the work entitled “Open Window” with a great economy of means. This painting marks an important break with the colorful still lifes of the period, favoring a muted palette and deep contrasts. It bears witness to research on the architectural structure of the interior space and its opening.

The composition revolves around an opening window or half-open door frame, cut into long verticalized planes. Outside, one can distinguish the schematized silhouette of a balcony railing or a stylized tree standing against a pale sky. The right side is dominated by a brown shutter decorated with a decorative pattern of tight beige circles. Flat areas of black and neutral grey frame this opening, creating a dramatic chiaroscuro contrast. A rectangular geometric pattern is also drawn on the dark floor in the foreground of the window. The light penetrates obliquely from the left, illuminating a narrow beige strip that underlines the rigorous verticality of the frame.

The technical mastery of Gris is revealed in the velvety rendering of the shadows obtained by a subtle work with oil. By limiting his chromatic palette, he succeeds in focusing attention on the perfect architectural balance of the scene. This work bears witness to his unique capacity to poetize geometric rigor.