Pablo Picasso ceramic Corrida sur fond noir (Corrida on Black Ground), 1953 A.R. 198 is full of energy and life. The imagery in this ceramic reflects Picasso's continued interest in the primal and masculine interactions between men and bulls. The ceramic medium allows for a marvelous three-dimensional effect, as the delicate line work brings movement and life to each character. Positioned against a black background, the bull and picador face off. The outlines of both the picador and the bull are colored in white. Behind them, small dots make out what is perceived as the audience. Viewers are made aware of the tension between the two figures as the bull readies its horns. Picasso was quite intrigued by the subject of the bull. As one author states, "In the work of Picasso, the bull is like one of those Spanish rivers, turbulent and agitated, which lose themselves among the brambles, rocks, and reeds, only to reappear later at some other place further on, in plain sight. There are times when it appears that the bull is adumbrated even in the 'figures' of the painter, figures as profound as they are debatable and enigmatic" (Marrero 83).

Created in 1956, this Madoura rectangular dish of white earthenware clay with decoration in engobes (blue, green, red, white, black ground) is knife engraved under glaze is stamped with the 'MADOURA PLEIN FEU' and 'EDITION PICASSO' pottery stamps on the underside; from the edition of 500.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
Pablo Picasso ceramic Corrida on Black Ground (Corrida sur fond noir), 1953 A.R. 198 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the final sale of the work).

1. Ramié, Alain. Picasso Catalogue of the edited ceramic works 1947-1971. Madoura: Galerie Madoura, 1988. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 198.
2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.