Pablo Picasso, La Pique (The Pike), 1950

Contrasting soft, cream tones with deep, midnight blues, Picasso depicts a matador, thrusting his spear, or pike, at a charging bull. The dish is beautifully glazed with a sheen that captures the light and adds smooth, glossy texture to this exquisite work The two abstract figures, created through the use of whimsical, curved lines, almost appear to be dancing rather than fighting, their graceful forms caught in a moment of heightened suspense as the bull lowers his horns and the matador prepares for the kill. Picasso encases the figures in a circular border and dots the outer edge of this hollow dish with playful blue circles, providing simple highlights that accentuate the action in the center of the piece.

Created in 1950, this original Madoura hollow round dish is made of white earthenware clay with engobe decoration in blue under glaze. This work is from the edition of 150 with the 'Madoura Plein Feu' and 'Empreinte Originale de Picasso' stamps on the verso.

Illustrated in:

1) Ramié, A. (1988) Picasso Catalogue of the edited ceramic works 1947-1971. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 103 on pg. 59.

About the Framing:

Museum-grade conservation framed in a complementary moulding with silk mats and a window on the verso displaying the 'Madoura Plein Feu' and 'Empreinte Originale de Picasso' stamps.