Exhibiting his love of experimenting with various art media, this piece is rendered with strong contrast and lyrical figurative elements. Set on a brilliantly glazed white background, the stunning picador sits atop his horse accompanied by the proud and boisterous bullfighter who wields his almighty sword; their silhouettes evoke a sense of motion and activity, excitement and applause. The most significant and interesting detail of this piece is the subtle teal-blue coloration that is a by-product of the oxidized paraffin against the white earthenware clay. The result is a more texturized piece with minimalist range in color that adds a depth and vibrancy to this round cupel.
Georges Bloch stated of Picasso’s ceramic works, ‘…in approach, material and technique is as novel as it is interesting. Pottery, gleaming white discs with relief designs, monochrome or brightly colored ovals, dishes and even jugs and vases here serve as bearers of compositions whose themes express the joyous, life-loving side of Picasso’s work. They are printed from blocks and stamps fashioned by the master over a period of more than twenty years in the Madoura pottery workshop in Vallauris.” (Bloch 7).
Created on January 30, 1954, this Madoura earthenware clay round cupel is engraved with oxidized paraffin and finished with a glazed bath with black enamel on the underside. With inscribed stamps on the underside, ‘MADOURA | EMPREINTE | ORIGINALE de | PICASSO’. From the total edition of 100 from January 30, 1954.
