Still Life with a Box of Matches

María Blanchard, whose work we present today, was a Spanish painter known for her contributions to Cubism and her unique approach to form and texture. A contemporary of Juan Gris and Diego Rivera (with whom she shared studios), she blended geometric abstraction with bold color and expressive brushwork. Despite facing physical disabilities and financial struggles, she gained recognition in Paris’s avant-garde circles, where she experimented with materials like glass beads and sand to add depth to her compositions. While she later moved toward a more figurative style, her Cubist works remain some of the movement’s most innovative, earning praise from peers who saw her as one of its finest artists.

This richly layered tabletop is filled with the quintessential elements of a Parisian café: glassware, a soda siphon, a bottle of Bénédictine liqueur, and the box of matches referenced in the title. Showcasing María Blanchard’s Cubist ingenuity, the painting features bold colors, thick impasto, and an array of textures, including small fragments of glass beads and both coarse and fine sand. 

Beautiful, isn't it?

P.S. Learn more about María Blanchard in our online course, Cubism 101: Picasso, Braque and the Others! :) 

P.P.S. Cubism is mostly known through the works of male artists. There were, however, talented women who created works in this style as well. Meet Alexandra Exter, a talented Cubist from Paris!