Pablo Picasso ceramic Visage au Trait Oblique (Face with Oblique Line), 1968- 1969 demonstrates the whimsical style Picasso brings to the ceramic medium. The portrait is subtly colored, appealing to our response to color, texture, and depth. The plaque is painted in a rich opaque white color, with the man’s features outlined in a navy blue. The man’s large eyes and his facial hair are emphasized lightly by gloss across an otherwise matte background. Together, these features form a comical expression. The subject seems to be in shock, his eyes wide and his lips tightly pursed. To add to the playfulness, his thin mustache is curved dramatically upwards at either side. Picasso is a master at illustrating nuanced human expressions like this.

To balance against the blue outlines forming the features, Picasso also uses subtle brushes of light brown against each part of the face. This creates the appearance of shadows and adds to the dimensionality of the man’s visage. Finally, across the man’s face is a brilliant yellow zig-zag line which sweeps diagonally across his nose. This decorative element becomes the focus of the plaque, its bright color naturally drawing the viewer’s eye towards it.

Created in 1968-1969, this Madoura red earthenware clay square plaque with engobe ground and engraving with oxides (white, blue, yellow) under partial brushed glaze is stamped with the 'MADOURA PLEIN FEU' and 'EMPREINTE ORIGINALE DE PICASSO' pottery stamps on the reverse, and numbered from the edition of 100.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
Pablo Picasso ceramic Face with Oblique Line (Visage au Trait Oblique),1968-1969 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices accompanying the sale of the work):

1. Ramié, Alain. Picasso Catalogue of the edited ceramic works 1947-1971.
Madoura: 1988. Listed an illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 589.

2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this artwork.