The artwork titled “Under the lamp,” created by Georges Braque in 1952 in France, is an oil painting on canvas currently housed within a private collection. This piece is a manifestation of the influential art movements of Cubism and Expressionism, which Braque helped develop. As a genre, it falls under still life, which is a common theme for explorations within these artistic styles.
“Under the lamp” illustrates the complexity and fragmentation characteristic of Cubist artworks. The composition is broken into geometrical segments that redefine the space and objects within it. The still life arrangement appears to include items such as a guitar, a pitcher, and what may be interpreted as a lampshade, all rendered through a play of shapes and subdued colors. The use of light and dark hues creates a sense of depth and interplay of forms, likely suggesting the presence of a light source akin to a lamp that instills the scene with warmth.
Braque’s technique involves the overlaying and juxtaposition of shapes, guiding the viewer’s eye across the canvas in a rhythmic fashion that disrupts traditional perspective. The artwork encapsulates the essence of the Cubist aim to depict objects from multiple viewpoints and the Expressionist desire to evoke emotional response through the use of form and color.
