“The Green Jug,” a work by Georges Braque, is an emblematic piece exemplifying the Synthetic Cubism movement, thought to have been created circa 1914 in France. The artwork is a small-scale still life, with dimensions of 17.9 by 24.7 centimeters, and can be viewed at the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, Connecticut, United States.
The artwork portrays a composition that is fragmented and abstracted, typical of the Synthetic Cubism style. It features geometric shapes and interlocking planes that suggest various objects and textures, behaving as visual analogues to items one might find in a traditional still life. The palette is muted, relying on a restricted range of colors, which emphasizes the synthesis of forms and flatness of the canvas, rather than depth or perspective. Even within this abstract representation, one can discern the titular green jug, perhaps indicated by bulbous shapes and the suggestion of a handle, amidst what might also include newspapers, a guitar, and other less distinctly represented objects. The inclusion of varied textures also hints at a sense of materiality, adding another layer of complexity to the otherwise flat pictorial space. By breaking down form and reducing objects to their basic geometric components, Braque invites the viewer to reconsider the way we perceive and construct reality in art.
