PABLO PICASSO (1881-1973)

In its composition and selection of elements – a ledge or table, some apples, a glass – Nature morte sous la lampe is in its sparseness and simplicity very much in the Spanish, rather than in the more opulent and luxurious Netherlandish tradition. Yet by introducing a modern, jarring element, a ceiling lamp with an electric light-bulb, Picasso transforms the subject into something altogether different and entirely contemporary. No longer is this a quiet, melancholic still-life, exploring the subtleties of natural shapes and hues. It is a celebration of saturated colors, bold shapes – and modernity. Picasso thus breathes life into an old, conservative genre and refreshes it for further generations.