What is Enamel Saucepan by Pablo Picasso about?

Answer 1

Enamel Saucepan (1945) is a good example of Synthetic Cubism, one of two branches of cubism that Picasso and Braque first developed in 1907. This style of painting was more about how the artist broke down the image into planes and facets, showing an object from several angles at once and less about the image having symbolic meaning (as, for example, Picasso's "Guernica"). Synthetic Cubism, used more decorative shapes, stencilling, collage, and brighter colors. Enamel Saucepan seems to be generally regarded as a still life without attendant meaning though the individual viewer is, of course, free to ascribe whatever meaning they wish. Of "Guernica" Picasso said “It isn’t up to the painter to define the symbols. Otherwise it would be better if he wrote them out in so many words! The public who look at the picture must interpret the symbols as they understand them.”