Glass of Absinthe by Picasso in the Museum of Modern Art, March 2010

Pablo Picasso
Glass of Absinthe
Paris, spring 1914


Picasso cast six bronze copies of Glass of Absinthe from a wax original and decorated each of them uniquely. In this version he broke new ground by incorporating an existing object into his sculpture: a real absinthe spoon nestles between the modeled bronze sugar cube and glass. (Absinthe is prepared by pouring the brilliant green liquid through a sugar cube resting on a slotted spoon like the one seen here.) Picasso spoke of his desire to explore different modes of representation: "I was interested in the relation between the real spoon and the modeled glass. In the way they clashed with each other."
Gallery label from Focus: Picasso Sculpture, July 3–November 3, 2008.


Medium: Painted bronze with absinthe spoon

Dimensions: 8 1/2 x 6 1/2 x 3 3/8" (21.6 x 16.4 x 8.5 cm), diameter at base 2 1/2" (6.4 cm)

Credit: Gift of Louise Reinhardt Smith

Object number: 292.1956


Text from: www.moma.org/collection/works/81307