Juan Gris, the prominent artist and key figure in the Cubist movement, hailed from the European capital of Spain, Madrid. Born as José Victoriano González-Pérez in 1887, Gris later adopted the pseudonym Juan Gris, which means "John Gray" in English. He was a pivotal figure in the development of Cubism, alongside other artists such as Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Gris' artwork demonstrated his unique approach to composition, color, and geometric forms, making him an influential artist of his time. He left a significant impact on the art world of the early 20th century before his untimely death in 1927.