The Studio, 1960

Made in our familiar Ghika’s post-cubist style, this fascinating painting introduces us to the artist’s world, his studio. Looking closely at this densely structured puzzle, one gradually makes out several pieces of furniture and other objects that seem lost in a kaleidoscope of colours. It is not difficult to locate a folding table with brushes and other painting tools, easels with characteristic paintings on them, the straw chair and easy chair, a stool on which a papyrus roll is unfolding like a Chinese painting, while arched windows open in the background. There is no void anywhere. The entire surface is densely woven like a tapestry. Instead of being painted with unified, solid paint, each “tessera” in this colourful puzzle is moulded according to Cezanne’s system, that is, in constantly changing tones. Nevertheless, there is a dominant colour for each surface. Purple, sky blue, green prevail. In this studio series, Ghika is inspired by a similar series of works, made by Picasso a few years before, when he had purchased the Villa California in Cannes. His paintings are also entitled “Studios.