58 - Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) & Madoura Workshops

Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) & Madoura Workshops Picador, a variation on the 1953 “Torero” plate. Made of earthenware, bearing the recessed stamps “Empreinte Originale de Picasso” and “Madoura plein feu” on the back. Diameter: 24 cm. Provenance: > Gift from the artist to Tériade > Private bequest from Alice Tériade, 2007 > Private collection, Paris Bibliography: > RAMIÉ (Alain). Picasso: Catalog of Ceramic Works Published 1947–1971. Editions Madoura, 1988, nos. 200–201 From Tériade’s collection, this round earthenware plate evokes the shared Mediterranean roots of the sculptor and the publisher, both of whom were deeply attached to the landscapes and culture of southern France, where they regularly crossed paths. The work explores the theme of bullfighting, a recurring motif in Picasso’s work that echoed the Greek origins of Tériade, a great admirer of ancient tragedy and the rituals of the bullring. The artistic treatment here emphasizes texture: the dark central medallion, engraved in relief, depicts the dynamic confrontation between the picador on his horse and the bull, while the rim of the plate is enlivened by touches of white enamel and geometric motifs punctuated with black oxide. Displayed in the private collection at Tériade’s villa in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, this piece attests to the publisher’s passionate interest in the technical audacity and formal spontaneity that Picasso displayed in his three-dimensional works.