Artwork
Ace of Clubs and Four of Diamonds
Ace of Clubs and Four of Diamonds is an oil painting by the Cubism Synthetic artist Juan Gris. It dates from 1915 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right: Juan Gris
About this work
Technique & Style
The work exemplifies Juan Gris's Cubist approach, employing the geometric fragmentation and multiple viewpoints characteristic of the movement.
Painted in 1915, this still life is executed in oil on board, measuring 30.48 by 16.51 cm. The work exemplifies Juan Gris's Cubist approach, employing the geometric fragmentation and multiple viewpoints characteristic of the movement. As a still life depicting playing cards, it follows the Cubist tradition of elevating everyday objects through formal analysis, breaking the subject into intersecting planes and facets. The compact dimensions and the rigid board support suit the precise, architectural quality of Gris's Cubism.
History & Provenance
Ace of Clubs and Four of Diamonds was painted by Juan Gris in 1915. The work entered the collection of John Quinn in New York by 1920 and remained with him until his death in 1924. After Quinn's estate sale at the Hotel Drouot in Paris on 28 October 1926, it was acquired by Jeanne Bucher (Mrs. Fritz Blumer), who later transferred it to her son-in-law, Dr. Andre Frederic Cournand, in New York.
It was purchased by Robert B. and Mercedes H. Eichholz in 1966 and, upon their deaths, bequeathed to the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where it was accessioned in 2014.
Overview
Juan Gris's Ace of Clubs and Four of Diamonds, painted in 1915, is an oil on board still life. This work exemplifies the principles of Synthetic Cubism, a movement with which Gris was closely affiliated. The composition features the two titular playing cards, rendered through a distinct approach of geometric abstraction and structured forms. It reflects the artist's methodical engagement with the fragmentation of objects.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a focused still life of two playing cards: the Ace of Clubs and the Four of Diamonds. These elements are depicted in an overlapping arrangement, reminiscent of a collage. The Ace of Clubs is identifiable by a central red star, while the Four of Diamonds features a prominent green diamond shape. Gris renders these everyday objects with simplified, bold lines and flat color planes, transforming their conventional appearance.
Context
Born José Victoriano González-Pérez in Madrid, Juan Gris relocated to France, where he became a significant figure in the development of Cubism. His work, including Ace of Clubs and Four of Diamonds, is distinguished by its highly structured compositions and a rigorous application of geometric abstraction. Gris's systematic approach contributed significantly to Synthetic Cubism, building upon the foundational innovations established by pioneers of the movement.
Artist & collection
Artist
José Victoriano González-Pérez, better known as Juan Gris, was a Spanish painter born in Madrid who lived and worked in France for most of his active period.
