Cubism is often seen as entirely abstract from the traditional art history movements. It is not true; Picasso took much from his predecessors, as did another Spanish master of abstraction, Juan Gris.
This oil painting, a portrait of the artist's wife, Josette Gris, reflects a pivotal moment in Cubism. It marks a shift from radical experimentation to a search for continuity with traditional painting, a change influenced by the political climate in France during World War I.
This return to classical themes is evident in the subject matter of Gris' work, which often referenced a reinterpreted past, particularly from 1916 onwards, when he began drawing inspiration from painters like Corot and Cézanne. While it’s unlikely that Gris directly modeled Josette’s pose after one of Corot's figures, her posture evokes an everyday simplicity reminiscent of the same tone Picasso sometimes used.
The reinterpretations of the French tradition, from Chardin’s still lifes to Corot’s peasant women and Cézanne’s landscapes, challenge the notion of Gris as a Spanish painter influenced by the Spanish Golden Age artists (how art historians often see him). Instead, they place him within the context of the evolving French tradition, shaped by the rise of nationalism during and after the Great War.
