Compostion au verre et a la pomme (Composition with Glass and Apple) 1946

Editor: This is Picasso’s "Composition au verre et a la pomme", or "Composition with Glass and Apple," from 1946. It seems to be a print, maybe an oil paint print? I'm struck by how simple it is, almost childlike, yet undeniably sophisticated in its abstraction. What can you tell me about this work, from a historical standpoint? Curator: It's interesting you find it childlike. Many saw Cubism itself, and Picasso’s later works, as a return to a primitive form of expression. Considering the date, 1946, right after World War II, do you think that yearning for something simple and unburdened might be reflected in the artwork? Editor: That's a great point. Maybe this simplified, almost playful, representation of everyday objects was a way to find joy and solace after such devastation. It does feel optimistic. Curator: Exactly. Also consider the rising interest in abstraction in the post-war art world. Institutions were embracing non-representational art as a symbol of progress and a break from traditional values – some say it became almost a political statement. How might a piece like this have been received by the art world then? Editor: I imagine it would have been both praised and criticized. Praised for pushing boundaries and embracing modernism, but perhaps also criticized for its perceived simplicity and departure from realism. Curator: Precisely. It highlights how art serves not just as personal expression but is received through a very political and cultural lens that is shaped by institutions, war and history. Editor: I see the relationship between simplicity and finding happiness in this post-war art in a different way now. Curator: And that's the goal of this dialogue. Hopefully now it helps our listeners do so as well.