Guitar and Bottle of Marc on a Table, 1930
Georges Braque (French, 1882-1963)

The remarkable collaboration between George Braque and Pablo Picasso that resulted in the invention of cubism came to an end when Braque entered the French army in 1914. After his discharge in 1916, Braque pursued an independent path, concentrating on the formal and decorative aspects of cubism. This painting belongs to a series of large still lifes painted between 1928 and 1932. Although he continued to use the cubist approach to space, Braque began to use brighter colors. Particularly interested in experimenting with new materials and techniques, he applied paint - sometimes mixed with sand - over a layer of gesso (plaster) to create an unusual, textured surface.