Pablo Picasso Mains au poisson (Hands with Fish), 1953

Displayed with bold contrast, this spectacular work features a russet colored fish between two hands. Figured around the fish are the hands of a man, which we can guess to be Picasso’s. Images of hands holding fish “are like metaphors for the technical difficulty of mastering clay, which slips through fingers (Bourassa, Paul. "Encounters with Ceramics." In Picasso and Ceramics, 39,40. Quebec City: Museé National Des Beaux-Arts Du Québec, 2004)”. Paying homage to the motif that spans Picasso’s ceramics, and potters from history before him, the symbolism is reinforced by the fish’s color, which resemble the terracotta of hues of red earthenware clay.

Created in 1953, this Madoura round dish of red earthenware clay, deep engraving painted in engobes (white, russet, black) is numbered from the edition of 100. This work is stamped with the ‘MADOURA PLEIN FEU’ and ‘EMPREINTE ORIGINALE DE PICASSO’ pottery stamps on the reverse.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

This work 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.