GRIS Juan
A major figure of Cubism alongside Picasso and Braque, Juan Gris (1887-1927) crafted a rigorous and luminous painting style. Discover his original exhibition posters above.
Juan Gris, the Master of Synthetic Cubism
Spanish painter based in Paris, Juan Gris (1887-1927) is, alongside Picasso and Braque, one of the three great masters of Cubism. Passing away at forty, he left behind a body of work marked by exceptional rigor and light: still lifes with compotes, guitars, bottles, and newspapers, constructed like architectures of color.
- 1887: born on March 23 in Madrid, under the name José Victoriano González-Pérez.
- 1906: arrives in Paris and settles at the Bateau-Lavoir.
- 1912: exhibits his first Cubist paintings, including a "Hommage à Picasso."
- 1913: contract with dealer Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler.
- 1922-1924: sets and costumes for the Ballets Russes.
- 1927: dies in Boulogne-sur-Seine, on May 11.
From Madrid to the Bateau-Lavoir
The thirteenth child of a Madrid merchant, José Victoriano González-Pérez studied engineering in Madrid, then turned to drawing. In 1906, he moved to Paris, to the Bateau-Lavoir, where his neighbor was Pablo Picasso. He initially earned a living by drawing for satirical newspapers like "L'Assiette au beurre," under the name Juan Gris.
A Luminous and Constructed Cubism
From 1911, Gris devoted himself to painting and joined the Cubist movement. In 1912, he exhibited a "Hommage à Picasso" and participated in the Section d'Or with André Lhote, Gleizes, and Metzinger. While Picasso and Georges Braque fragmented objects, Gris constructed his paintings from an abstract geometric architecture, upon which he then placed objects. He called this method "going from the general to the particular." His colors, more vivid than those of the early Cubists, and his collages of papers and newspapers give his work a unique clarity.
Kahnweiler, the Ballets Russes, and the Final Years
Supported by dealer Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler, and during the war by Léonce Rosenberg, Gris was admired by poets Max Jacob, Pierre Reverdy, and Gertrude Stein. He created sets and costumes for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and illustrated poets' books. Stricken by a serious illness, he died in 1927 in Boulogne-sur-Seine, at only forty years old. His works are now in the world's greatest museums.
The Posters of Galerie Louise Leiris and Galerie Berggruen
After the war, Galerie Louise Leiris, heir to Kahnweiler, and Galerie Berggruen organized major Juan Gris exhibitions in Paris, accompanied by beautiful lithographed posters. The modern art museums of Paris and Bordeaux also dedicated exhibitions to him. These posters, carefully printed, reflect the rigor and light of his compositions and are sought after by Cubism enthusiasts.
Choosing a Juan Gris Work
- Still lifes with compotes, guitars, and bottles are the most emblematic subjects.
- Posters from Galerie Louise Leiris and Galerie Berggruen are historic Cubism pieces.
- Their geometric construction perfectly complements a modern interior.
- Each work offered by the gallery is precisely described and sold with an invoice-certificate.
Juan Gris at Galerie 125
The gallery offers above original art posters published for major exhibitions dedicated to Juan Gris, at Galerie Louise Leiris and Galerie Berggruen in Paris, as well as at the modern art museums of Paris and Bordeaux. Each poster is described and photographed in detail and is carefully packaged, with tracking and insurance. Also discover: Henri Hayden, André Lhote, and Fernand Léger.
Do you own a work by Juan Gris and wish to sell it? Find out how on our Sell a Work page.