White and Red Still Life

1947

Françoise Gilot

(French, 1921–2023)

Culture

France

Medium

gouache and graphite on thick wove paper

Measurements

Sheet: 65.1 x 50.4 cm (25 5/8 x 19 13/16 in.)

Credit Line

Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2024.66

Catalogue raisonné

Gilot archive G.707

This artwork is known to be under copyright.

Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

To create the vivid red tonality in this drawing, Françoise Gilot painted with cadmium red, a pigment known for its brightness and opacity.

Description

In this drawing, Françoise Gilot portrayed everyday household objects while incorporating numerous vantage points. Gilot developed this technique alongside Pablo Picasso, with whom she had a relationship from 1943 until 1953. Together, the two experimented with geometric abstraction. Rather than pure formal experimentation, Gilot also incorporated autobiographical references into her work—here, for example, the rounded shapes stood for femininity, disrupted by angular, masculine forms.