Artwork
Man and Woman on Bench
Man and Woman on Bench is a gouache drawing by Juan Gris. It dates from 1908 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:recto: at lower right in black: JUAN / GRIS; verso: in later hand, at upper left, in graphite: Knoedeler SVPC.bb.Genus.T 22 7/8 2938 / 1475 / 4353; in later hand, at upper center, in blue pencil: Plana E
- Markings
- Marked:none
About this work
Overview
Man and Woman on Bench is a 1908 drawing by Juan Gris, created with charcoal, gouache, and watercolor on wove paper. It exemplifies the artist's early experimentation with Cubism.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a man and woman seated on a bench, with the man holding a hat over her head. The figures are set against a backdrop of trees and a fence, with the woman's pose suggesting vulnerability or distress.
Technique & Style
Gris employed simplified, angular shapes and bold lines to render the figures and their surroundings. The color palette is subdued, with beige, brown, and black dominating, punctuated by occasional bright accents.
History & Provenance
Juan Gris, born José Victoriano González-Pérez, was a Spanish artist who later became a key figure in the Cubist movement in France. This drawing reflects his early engagement with Cubism's structured, geometric approach to form.
Own this work as a print
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.
- Alfred la Guigne
Untitled
At the Concert (Au concert)
Emilienne d'Alecon and Mariquita of the Follies-Bergère
At the Concert (Au concert)
Gil Blas Illustré: Une Curiosité, par Alexandre Hepp
Parisian Woman (The Effect of the Night)
Lugne Poe and Baldy in "Au-dessus des forces humaines" (Lugne Poe et Baldy dans "Au-desses des forces humaines")
The Old Gentlemen (Les vieux messieurs)
At the Concert (Au concert)
Rejane and Galipaux in "Madame Sans-Gêne" (Réjane et Galipaux dans "Madame Sans-Gêne")
La Goulue and Her Sister