About The Ceramic:

‘Corrida sur Fond Noir’ translates to ‘Bullfight on Black Ground’. This dish channels the intensity of a bullfight into a bold familiar form, a dish that also echoes the shape of the ring. Created in 1953, this piece captures the charged moment of confrontation between a bull and a picador. Pablo uses sharp white lines against a stark black background to emphasize the figures' dynamic energy. A splash of red at the base of the dish adds intensity and a sense of danger to the scene. Tiny dots in the background suggest a distant audience, pulling the viewer in front of the front row and into the heightened drama as the bull lowers its horns for the charge, which may be its last. This work exemplifies Picasso’s ability to distill movement, tension, and emotion into a few simple strokes, making the scene both immediate and timeless.

About The Technique:

This rectangular dish is crafted from white earthenware clay, decorated with colorful engobe (blue, green, red, and white) on a black ground, with details added through knife engraving. Stamped “MADOURA PLEIN FEU” and “EDITION PICASSO” on the underside, this work is an excellent example from the edition of 500.

Condition Report:

It is in our opinion that this work is in overall excellent condition with no chips, cracks or signs of previous restoration.