Pablo Picasso Footballeur (Footballer), 1965 A.R. 538 is an exuberant and eye-catching piece, capturing the momentum of a bounding football player in smooth, abstracted lines. Perfectly showcasing Picasso’s playful style, the starfish-like figure radiates energy and joviality. Balancing on one leg, the Footballer kicks one leg back and reaches forward, as if ready to throw out a kick. The surface of the figure is pleasantly smooth, save for a raised crest running down the middle and through the arms, providing the form with a skeletal outline, as well as giving it gentle slopes which give it a moving, organic quality. The work is brilliantly minimal while effectively communicating dynamism, human form, and the instantly-recognizable gesture of a soccer player mid-game. Picasso not only showed full mastery of every medium in which he worked, but effectively utilized it in a exuberantly refreshing way, creating works that bore the full effect of his unique genius. The Footballer has a fascinating dual quality, appearing simultaneously as a purely amorphous abstraction and a figure full of life and intention. This deceptively simple and incredibly delightful work captures everything that Picasso is celebrated for.

Created in 1965, Footballeur (Footballer) A.R. 538 is a Clay Madoura Sculpture (Slip Casting in White). Numbered from the edition of 50 on the base, this work is stamped with the 'MADOURA PLEIN FEU' and 'EDITION PICASSO' pottery stamps on the back of the base.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:
Pablo Picasso ceramic Footballeur (Footballer), 1965 A.R. 534 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices accompanying 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. 538.
2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.