Pablo Picasso, Three Fish, 1948

Three strikingly lifelike sardines rest upon a textured black and brown background in this exquisite glazed ceramic. Picasso captures the essential characteristics of these fish, hinting at their blue-grey scales and large, bulbous eyes. While we cannot know for certain what inspired the subject of this piece, we can perhaps surmise that the Spanish ceremony "The Burial of the Sardine" influenced Picasso's decision to convey three sardines. This ceremony celebrates the end of the Spanish carnival and consists of a parade that parodies a funeral procession and culminates with the burning of a symbolic figure, the sardine. This event represents the burial of the past, allowing society to be reborn and instilled with a new sense of life and vivaciousness. With this knowledge, perhaps this lovely dish represents a fresh start, instilling the space in which it dwells with a rejuvenating and hopeful energy.

Created in 1948, this white earthenware clay rectangular dish is decorated in engobes (brown, blue, straw-colour) and knife engraved under yellow glaze. This piece is numbered from the edition of 200 on verso and also features the inscribed stamps: 'MADOURA PLEIN FEU and 'EDITION PICASSO' 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. Ramié, Alain. Picasso Catalogue of the edited ceramic works 1947-1971. Madoura: 1988. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 34 on pg. 35.
2. Ramié, Georges. Pablo Picasso: Catalogue de l'oeuvre grave céramique Tome III 1949 - 1971. New York: Viking Press, 1976. . Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 677 on pg. 276
3. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.

About the Framing:

Museum grade conservation framed in a complementary moulding with silk mats.