The Smoker 1913

Juan Gris made "The Smoker" with oil on canvas, creating a faceted view of a figure in tones of green, blue and ochre. The geometric shapes build a composition where forms emerge and recede, it's a dance of perception! Up close, the surface has this lovely, almost chalky texture. The colour is built up in layers, with these crisp edges to each plane. The ochre triangle that defines the front of the shirt has these barely visible brushstrokes that lend the surface a subtle grit. This is offset by the smoother and deeper saturation of the green and blue areas. It's as if Gris wants to remind you that this is paint, a physical thing, even as he’s conjuring the illusion of form. There’s a push and pull between abstraction and figuration. Like Braque and Picasso, he’s playing with how we see, but bringing a very personal approach to this conversation. What is he trying to show us about how we perceive the world? There are no easy answers here!