Paper

Student Artwork Guide

The Glass

Juan Gris, 1914

Name Class Date
Juan Gris, The Glass (1914). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Juan Gris originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/juan-gris/
Artist’s dates
1887 – 1927
Painted
1914
Medium
Oil On Canvas
Original size
27 x 22 cm
Movement
Cubism Objects broken apart and shown from several viewpoints at once, all flattened onto one surface.
Artistic style
Cubist
Notable elements or techniques
Geometric forms, multiple perspectives
Subject or theme
Face with a guitar

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Juan Gris died in 1927; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1997.

Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

The Glass — Juan Gris Part 1 · The artwork

In context

The Glass — Juan Gris

How big is it?

The original measures 27 × 22 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1880
  2. 1890
  3. 1900
  4. 1910
  5. 1920

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 40 at death.

Painted when the artist was 27. The artist lived to 40. 68 of the 310 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Juan Gris (1887–1927) ▲ this work, 1914 every dated painting, decade by decade

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/juan-gris-the-glass-8XYCRE-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Walnut #653e1e

    Catalogued palette

    • #653E1E
    • #221F15
    • #956B39
    • #452D17

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Walnut
    Intensity
    Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Serene How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Deep_shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Balanced Soft How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Juan Gris over the last twelve months — 27 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 48.3%12,500 visits
    2. 2 United States of America 9.3%2,400 visits
    3. 3 Singapore 8.1%2,100 visits
    4. 4 Hong Kong 5.8%1,500 visits
    5. 5 Denmark 4.6%1,200 visits
    6. 6 Spain 3.5%900 visits
    7. 7 Brazil 2.3%600 visits
    8. 8 United Kingdom 2.3%600 visits
    9. 9 Greece 2.3%600 visits
    10. 10 Argentina 1.9%500 visits
    11. · 17 other countries 11.6%3,000 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Juan Gris

    1. 1 Portrait of Madame Josette Gris, 1916 4.9%1,800 visits
    2. 2 Still Life with a Guitar, 1913 4.6%1,700 visits
    3. 3 Still Life before an Open Window aka Place Ravignan, 1915 3.5%1,300 visits
    4. 4 Guitar on a Table, 1915 2.5%900 visits
    5. 5 The painters window - -, 1925 2.5%900 visits
    6. 6 Still Life with Flowers, 1912 2.2%800 visits
    7. 7 Landscape with house at Ceret, 1913 1.9%700 visits
    8. 8 breakfast, 1914 1.9%700 visits
    9. 9 Bottle, Newspaper and Fruit Bowl, 1915 1.9%700 visits
    10. 10 Pears and grapes on a table, 1913 1.6%600 visits
    11. 11 Breakfast, 1915 1.6%600 visits
    12. 12 Harlequin with guitar - -, 1919 1.6%600 visits
    13. 13 Glass and Ace of Clubs, 1917 1.6%600 visits
    14. 14 Landscape with Houses at Ceret, 1913 1.6%600 visits
    15. 15 Woman With Basket, 1927 1.6%600 visits
    16. 16 The Sunblind, 1914 1.4%500 visits
    17. 17 Landscape at Beaulieu, 1918 1.4%500 visits
    18. 18 Violin and Guitar, 1913 1.1%400 visits
    19. 19 The Checkerboard, 1915 1.1%400 visits
    20. 52 The Glass, 1914 this painting 0.5%200 visits

    Together these works take 41.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 340 works by this artist, of which 148 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 52 of them, with 0.5% of that attention (200 visits). The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    The Glass — Juan Gris Part 2 · In context

    About this artwork

    The Glass — Juan Gris

    The Geometry of Perception: Exploring Juan Gris's "The Glass"

    To stand before Juan Gris’s The Glass is not merely to observe an arrangement of painted objects; it is to step into a meticulously constructed intellectual puzzle, a vibrant dialogue between form and perception. Created in the pivotal year of 1914, this oil on canvas captures the essence of everyday materiality through the revolutionary lens of Cubism. The painting immediately draws the eye to its central subject—a face rendered with an almost haunting abstraction—juxtaposed against the elegant curve of a guitar receding into the background. Gris does not present reality as it is seen in a single glance, but rather as it is known through intellect and memory, inviting the viewer into a multi-faceted contemplation.

    A Masterclass in Cubist Innovation

    The technical brilliance at play here is undeniable. As a seminal work of Cubism, The Glass exemplifies how the movement shattered traditional single-point perspective. Gris masterfully employs geometric fragmentation, breaking down recognizable forms—the contours of the face, the structure of the instrument—into interlocking planes and facets. This technique forces the viewer’s eye to actively participate in the act of seeing, piecing together the whole from its constituent parts. It is a sophisticated visual vocabulary that speaks volumes about the early 20th-century desire to redefine representation itself. The interplay between the solid geometry and the implied depth creates an exhilarating sense of spatial ambiguity.

    Symbolism and the Everyday Object

    What appears at first glance as a still life—a glass, a face, a musical instrument—is imbued with deeper symbolic resonance. Gris often elevated humble, quotidian objects to monumental status, suggesting that profound meaning can be unearthed from the most ordinary corner of life. The guitar, an object associated with culture and narrative, anchors the composition alongside the enigmatic portraiture. These elements combine to suggest themes of identity, memory, and the way art itself functions as a structure for understanding our complex existence. It is a meditation on how we assemble meaning from disparate sensory inputs.

    Bringing Cubism Home: Decorating with Intellectual Depth

    For the collector or designer seeking an artwork that transcends mere decoration, The Glass offers intellectual depth alongside unparalleled aesthetic beauty. Its controlled vibrancy and complex structure make it a breathtaking focal point for any sophisticated interior space. Whether placed in a gallery setting or integrated into a modern living area, its cool, analytical palette and dynamic composition provide a stimulating counterpoint to softer furnishings. Owning a reproduction of this piece is acquiring not just paint on canvas, but a tangible connection to one of the most revolutionary periods in art history—a conversation starter that whispers of Picasso, Braque, and the enduring spirit of artistic inquiry.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    The Glass — Juan Gris Part 3 · About this artwork

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Juan Gris

    Born in Madrid, Spain

    A Spanish Visionary of Cubism: The Life and Art of Juan Gris

    Born José Victoriano González-Pérez in Madrid in 1887, the artist who would become known as Juan Gris embarked on a journey that would place him among the most significant figures of early 20th-century art. His initial path wasn’t one immediately leading to canvas and brush; he pursued engineering at the School of Arts and Sciences, demonstrating an analytical mind that would later profoundly influence his artistic approach. Even during these formative years, a creative spark flickered – contributing drawings to local periodicals hinted at a burgeoning visual talent. It was in 1905 that he adopted the pseudonym Juan Gris, a name resonating with a newfound sense of identity and purpose as he began formal painting studies under José Moreno Carbonero. This marked a pivotal shift, setting him on a course toward artistic innovation.

    Parisian Awakening and the Embrace of Cubism

    The year 1906 witnessed a transformative relocation to Paris, a city then pulsating with artistic energy. Gris immersed himself in this vibrant milieu, forging friendships with luminaries like Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, and Fernand Léger. He initially engaged in satirical illustration for publications such as L'Assiette au Beurre, honing his observational skills and developing a keen sense of visual wit. However, the magnetic pull of Pablo Picasso proved particularly influential. Around 1910, Gris began to seriously dedicate himself to painting, moving away from caricature towards the burgeoning language of Cubism. This wasn’t mere imitation; he embarked on a quest to distill the essence of form and space, seeking a new visual order. His early explorations were marked by a deliberate departure from traditional representation, embracing abstraction as a means of capturing reality's underlying structure.

    The Geometry of Perception: Style and Key Works

    Juan Gris’s artistic output is characterized by an exceptional clarity and intellectual rigor. He didn’t simply deconstruct objects; he reconstructed them with deliberate precision, emphasizing geometric forms and a carefully considered palette. This approach led to what became known as his “crystal period,” exemplified in masterpieces like Still Life Before an Open Window and Place Ravignan (1915). These works showcase a remarkable interplay of planes and angles, creating a sense of depth and solidity while simultaneously challenging conventional notions of perspective. After 1913, Gris wholeheartedly embraced Synthetic Cubism, pioneering the use of papier collé – collage – incorporating real-world materials like newspaper clippings and textured papers into his compositions. This technique added another layer of complexity and tactility to his work, blurring the boundaries between painting and sculpture. Notable examples include Guitar in front of the sea (1925), a testament to his simplified forms and adherence to cubist principles, and Homage à Pablo Picasso (1912), which signaled his growing recognition within the avant-garde art world.

    Legacy and Lasting Influence

    Juan Gris’s contribution to Cubism extends beyond mere stylistic innovation; he brought a unique intellectual depth and structural clarity to the movement. He moved past the analytical phase, towards a more organized and synthetic approach, emphasizing order and precision. His work profoundly influenced the Purist style championed by Amédée Ozenfant and Charles Edouard Jeanneret (Le Corbusier), advocating for a return to classical principles of form and composition. Gris’s emphasis on geometric forms, harmonious color palettes, and the integration of everyday objects into his art established him as a pivotal figure in 20th-century art. His legacy continues to inspire artists today, demonstrating the enduring power of Cubism and the visionary genius of Juan Gris – a Spanish master who reshaped our understanding of perception and representation.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for The Glass

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/juan-gris-the-glass-8XYCRE-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Gris, Juan. The Glass. 1914, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/juan-gris-the-glass-8XYCRE-en/
    APA
    Gris, Juan (1914). The Glass [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/juan-gris-the-glass-8XYCRE-en/
    Chicago
    Juan Gris. The Glass. 1914. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/juan-gris-the-glass-8XYCRE-en/
    Harvard
    Gris, Juan (1914) The Glass. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/juan-gris-the-glass-8XYCRE-en/

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    The Glass — Juan Gris Part 4 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    The Glass — Juan Gris

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: cubism, juan gris, still life. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Portrait of Madame Josette Gris (1916), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Cubism: Objects broken apart and shown from several viewpoints at once, all flattened onto one surface. Where can you see that in this work?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    The Glass — Juan Gris Part 5 · Look closely

    Art quiz

    The Glass — Juan Gris

    How well do you know this artwork?

    Tick one answer for each of the 5 questions below. Each has exactly one correct answer.

    1. 1. What art movement is Juan Gris most associated with for this painting?

      • A Surrealism
      • B Cubism
      • C Impressionism

    2. 2. In what year was 'The Glass' by Juan Gris created?

      • A 1906
      • B 1914
      • C 1927

    3. 3. What primary materials were used for 'The Glass'?

      • A Watercolor and paper
      • B Oil on canvas
      • C Mosaic tiles

    4. 4. Which object is prominently featured alongside the abstracted face in the painting?

      • A A bottle of wine
      • B A guitar
      • C A newspaper

    5. 5. The style of 'The Glass' is noted for its use of multiple perspectives, a key characteristic of which artistic approach?

      • A Renaissance perspective
      • B Cubist representation
      • C Baroque drama

    My score: ____ out of 5

    Answer key — for the teacher

    This starts a fresh printed page, so it can simply be left out of the copies.

    1A · 2A · 3A · 4A · 5A

    Check any answer against the catalogue record for this painting

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    The Glass — Juan Gris Part 6 · Art quiz

    Questions & Answers

    When was "The Glass" created, and to which movement does it belong?

    "The Glass" by Juan Gris is dated 1914 and belongs to Cubism.

    Which artistic current is "The Glass" by Juan Gris part of?

    "The Glass" by Juan Gris belongs to the Cubism movement. This movement provides the stylistic context of the work.

    Where do the visitors of "The Glass" by Juan Gris come from?

    A Stats page exists for "The Glass". It charts the monthly visits of the artwork and of the artist's other works, with country and language breakdowns.