Pablo Picasso Bearded Man, 1953

This vibrantly colored pitcher contrasts saturated blacks against chestnut browns, stark whites, and bold greens and yellows to create an intriguing and expressive face. Picasso creates a distinctly masculine face with a strong beard and thick eyebrows. The figure conveys a somewhat stern yet powerful expression; he pinches his lips together in a scowl and gazes out at the viewer with eyes wide open. Picasso exaggerates certain facial characteristics such as the eyes and nose, which are all overtly large. However, by applying glaze to the beard, mustache, and eyebrows, he highlights these components as the most important facial characteristics. Their glossy surfaces pop out against the matte texture of the ceramic. Picasso also applies a wreathe and colorful, yellow flower atop the bearded man's head, contrasting his masculinity against organic, feminine elements and indicating a somewhat gentler side to this masculine figure. Perhaps the most intriguing element of this piece is Picasso's ability to manipulate the facial qualities to fit the natural shape of the pitcher so that, when viewed from the side, the pitcher appears as the facial profile of a man. The forehead, nose, and mouth protrude outward while the eyes appear to sink in.

Created in 1953, this original turned pitcher of white earthenware clay with decoration in engobes (red, green, and black patina) is annotated in black 'EDITION | PICASSO' on the bottom; also impressed with the 'Madoura Plein Feu' and 'Edition Picasso' stamps on the bottom. From the edition of 500.

DOCUMENTED AND ILLUSTRATED IN:
1) Ramié, A. (1988) Picasso Catalogue of the edited ceramic works 1947-1971. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 217 on pg. 117.

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