This simplistic yet multi-faceted plaque, Pablo Picasso ceramic Face with Ruff, 1971, is a stunning work that exhibits four original stamps by Pablo Picasso. Together with a series of deeply-set lines, the composition unites to create a "face with ruff." Picasso's simple, clean-cut lines delineate the basic images, while his stamps add more detailed components. Small faces emerge in the stamps, as well as fluid figures that look to be dancing across the features of Face with Ruff, 1971. Though he offers us a more literal translation by stamping one eye with an eye-shaped stamp, Picasso also utilizes an eye stamp to create his subject's mouth, mixing and matching facial components and giving them new definitions in the process. The stamps themselves feature miniature faces, and the action of creating the facial features of our Face with Ruff using the stamps coalesces in a delightfully fun and complex face.

Picasso boldly adventures out into the medium of ceramics, and creates something wonderfully innovative. Not only is the ceramic work itself a work beautiful to behold, but the delicate and detailed nature of the stamps brings another element of skill and intuition into the ceramic plaque.

Created in 1971, this rectangular plaque of red earthenware clay is from the edition of 200. This work is stamped with the 'MADOURA PLEIN FEU' and 'POINCON ORIGINALE DE PICASSO' pottery stamps on the reverse.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

Pablo Picasso ceramic Face with Ruff, 1971 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. Ramié, Alain. Picasso Catalogue of the edited ceramic works 1947-1971. Madoura: 1988. This work is listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 625
2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.