Man with a Guitar, 1911 by Pablo Picasso

Man with a Guitar, 1911 by Pablo Picasso
Man with a Guitar, 1911 by Pablo Picasso

Again the gradual loosening of form from the tight spatial restrictions of high analytical Cubism is beginning to be felt here. The pyramidal structure is in place but the heavy geometrical shapes are allowed a gentler, more rhythmical feel, counter balanced by the swirling column-like shape at the bottom, denoting the picture's base. The repeated darkened shape also echoes the guitar, which is more clearly represented this time as a recognized form in the center of the picture. It makes a full appearance at the height of Synthetic Cubism in The Three Musicians (1921).

Here, the use of shading and contrasting ochre against the blue further emphasizes this strong section, almost lifting it from the picture plane as if the lyrical resonance of the guitar is giving the picture sensory life. The inclusion of a wineglass in the top right, the lettering KOU slashed by a horizontal line to create spatial depth and the notion that this is a corner of a room, suggest a cafe scene, as in a work by Braque called The Portuguese.