Pablo Picasso Visage de Faune tormenté (Tormented Faun's Face), 1956 A.R. 320

This whimsical face relays a light-hearted, childlike sentiment. Picasso utilizes texture rather than color to convey a sense of depth and movement within the piece. The smiling face, set against a criss-crossed background, appears as a sun with rays shining out towards the dish's borders. Two tiny hands welcome the viewer in with open arms while delicate wheat stalks dance around the edges. Through his depiction of symbols reminiscent of the sun and the earth, perhaps Picasso intended this piece to represent a bountiful harvest. Picasso created a number of faces for a series of ceramic plates and this piece, in particular, stands out as one of his more cheerful and exuberant works.

Created in 1956, this Madoura dish of white, earthenware clay is from the edition of 100 and is stamped with the 'MADOURA PLEIN FEU' and 'EDITION PICASSO' pottery stamps on the underside.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
Pablo Picasso Visage de Faune tormenté (Tormented Faun's Face), 1956 A.R. 320 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices accompanying the final sale of the work):

1. Listed and illustrated in the following: Ramié, Alain. Picasso Catalogue of the edited ceramic works 1947-1971. Madoura: 1988.
2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.