In the galleries of the Art Institute of Chicago hangs one of George Braque’s masterpieces, “Still Life with Fruit and a Stringed Instrument.” This revolutionary cubist piece explores new horizons for us to understand.

This work of art is full of activity and offers the viewer almost too much to comprehend. In the center of the table you have a large fruit bowl on a stand containing a variety of fruits. The grapes are clearly represented in the middle, while the pear is on the left edge of the fruit bowl. At the bottom left of the fruit stand is the guitar or lute face up on the table. In front of the viewer, on the table closest to the picture plane, is a plate with a lemon and fruit. The plate rests on a roll of papers that looks like music. Looking to the right, an uncut lemon is seen resting on papers inscribed with parallel lines representing a musical score. The same goes for the wine pitcher just above the lemon and also for the orange and wine glass on the far right.

On the back of the table, both the left and right sides are two images. The one on the left is a red bean-shaped figure that I perceive to be the musician. Complementing this figure on the back right side of the table is a triangular figure in yellow with zig-zags and dots. I perceive that it is a colleague who enjoys the food and music of her friend.

The back wall of the scene is complex and crowded, you can see the baseboard of the wall and the floor along the bottom of the figure in red and then continue from the other side of the table to the right of the triangular figure . then off the canvas. No attention is paid to keeping the horizon line of the floor aligned with each side, the goal is to secure the back plane of the table.

Throughout the painting you have zig-zag patterns that permeate the entire fabric of the work and give a great visual stimulus to the piece. All of the zig-zag patterns are compartmentalized, as can be seen in the three back wall panels, the triangular figure to the right, and the fruit bowl impaled by dorsal fin-like patterns. This is wonderful and thought-provoking work and is a milestone in bringing cubist elements to the fore.

Stephen F. Condren – Artist