Pablo Picasso

Picasso’s time in Southern France had a profound effect on his creative ambitions, and a newly found passion for pottery became central to his practice from 1946 until his death in 1973. While Picasso was inspired by mythological subjects throughout his career, he fervently embraced Classical traditions while at the Madoura pottery in Vallauris, apparently enthralled by the opportunity to practice the ancient art form in a region with such a long and rich history with ceramics. Channeling the Gallo-Roman potters of Vallauris, and Mediterranean artisans more broadly, his clay editions are rife with mythological iconography and zoomorphic and anthropomorphic forms. Conceived in 1954, Personnages et têtes combines various traditions, largely paying homage to the red- and black-figure techniques found in Athens. The clean lines of this vessel provide the perfect backdrop for Picasso’s embellishments, a playful yet orderly arrangement of kouros and fauns. Personnages et têtes is a fine example of how working with clay allowed Picasso to re-visit his preferred motifs in the round, further exploring movement and plasticity in a way one cannot on canvas or paper. From a small edition of 25, this particular work in good condition with bright white highlights best displays Picasso's experimental and informed approach to pottery.