The Packet of Tobacco 1916

Juan Gris created "The Packet of Tobacco," using oil on canvas. Notice how Gris dissects everyday objects into fragmented forms. The painting is structured through a semiotic system where shapes represent objects – the packet of tobacco, a bottle – yet retain their abstract qualities. Gris uses color to define planes and create depth, while also flattening the pictorial space, which challenges traditional perspective. The composition doesn’t just represent objects; it presents a constructed reality, which invites us to question our perception of space and form. Note the significance of the number '30' on a piece of paper. Numbers were used by Gris as a way to invoke the idea of a system of signs to denote meaning. Ultimately, the formal elements of the composition come together in a cultural commentary that highlights a rupture from established modes of representation, opening a dialogue about how we perceive and interpret the world around us.