Gallery 269, Modern and Contemporary Art, second floor
Main Building
Gallery 269, Modern and Contemporary Art, second floor
Main Building
The Surrealists celebrated this work—a hybrid of a painted bronze sculpture and an everyday item—for sabotaging the line between art and reality.
In this assemblage Picasso illustrates the correct method for consuming absinthe—a potent but toxic green-colored liquor. Absinthe became popular in Parisian cafés in the decades before and after 1900. Its bitter taste led to the specific serving method shown here: slowly pouring water over a sugar cube resting on a slotted spoon. The sugared water combines with absinthe at the bottom of the glass.
Gallery 269, Modern and Contemporary Art, second floor
Title: | Glass of Absinthe |
Date: | 1914 |
Artist: | Pablo Ruiz y Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973) |
Medium: | Painted bronze with absinthe spoon |
Dimensions: | 8 7/8 x 4 3/4 x 3 3/8 inches (22.5 x 12.1 x 8.6 cm) |
Classification: | Sculpture |
Credit Line: | A. E. Gallatin Collection, 1952 |
Accession Number: | 1952-61-114 |
Geography: | Made in France, Europe |
We are always open to learning more about our collections and updating the website. Does this record contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? Contact us here.
Please note that this particular artwork might not be on view when you visit. Don’t worry—we have plenty of exhibitions for you to explore.
Gallery 269, Modern and Contemporary Art, second floor
Main Building