Cubist Still Life with Fruit Bowl, 1923

Juan Gris (1887–1927) was a Spanish painter and one of the leading figures of the Cubist movement. Born José Victoriano González-Pérez in Madrid, Gris initially studied engineering before turning to art, moving to Paris in 1906 where he became closely associated with artists such as Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. His work is distinguished by a refined, analytical approach to Cubism, characterized by the use of clear geometric forms, a restrained palette, and a focus on still lifes. Gris worked primarily in oil on canvas but also produced significant works on paper and designed stage sets.

Gris’s art has been exhibited in major institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid. His works have featured in landmark exhibitions on Cubism and early 20th-century modernism. At auction, Gris’s paintings have achieved significant milestones at major houses such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s, with several works selling for tens of millions of dollars, reflecting his enduring importance in the art market. Gris’s legacy is that of a masterful innovator who helped define the visual language of modern art in the early twentieth century.