Still life with bottle of Anis del Mono 1909

Here is the audio guide script for the artwork provided: Pablo Picasso’s ‘Still life with bottle of Anis del Mono’ is painted with traditional oil paint on canvas. While these materials are not out of the ordinary, Picasso’s radical approach to form turned the art world upside down. Look closely, and you’ll see how the artist has built up an image of fractured planes and multiple perspectives with careful brushstrokes. The still life comes alive through Picasso's method; he broke down objects into geometric shapes, and then reassembled them on the canvas. This approach challenges the idea of a singular viewpoint, and reflects the fast-changing experience of modernity. The choice of ‘Anis del Mono’ is also significant; it was a popular, mass-produced Spanish liquor. By including such a recognizable brand, Picasso inserted everyday life into the realm of fine art. He blurred the lines between high culture and the commercial world, making a statement about consumerism. Ultimately, this work encourages us to think about how materials, making, and context are critical to understanding art, questioning what we consider to be ‘art’ and its place in society.