Pablo Picasso

PABLO PICASSO (Málaga, 1881 – Mougins, France, 1973).
"Visage No. 157" (Face No. 157). Series conceived in 1963.
Fired clay, painted in color and glazed. Copy 2/150.
Marked and numbered “No. 157/Picasso Edition/2/150/Madoura” (on the underside)
glazed ceramic plate
Measurements: 25.5 x 2 cm.

One of Pablo Picasso’s greatest achievements during his time as a ceramicist was his ability to transform utilitarian objects into living figures through a process of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic reinterpretation. Plates, jugs, and platters ceased to be mere containers and became faces, birds, fish, bulls, or fantastical creatures, integrating the form of the vessel into the composition itself. Visage No. 157 is an example of this exploration, in which the artist transforms the ceramic surface into a face of intense expressiveness, drawing on the qualities of the material itself. Created as part of his collaboration with the Madoura workshop in Vallauris, which began in 1946, Visage No. 157 belongs to one of the most innovative and prolific periods of Picasso’s career. For nearly a quarter of a century, the artist explored the possibilities of clay, glazes, and traditional firing techniques, producing more than 3,500 ceramic works, including both unique pieces and editions. This period marked a profound renewal of the ceramic language, as he transferred the formal explorations that had defined his painting and sculpture to a traditional medium. The Visages series represents one of Picasso’s most original contributions to 20th-century artistic ceramics.

Pablo Picasso is one of the key figures in 20th-century art. A co-founder of Cubism alongside Georges Braque, he developed a career marked by constant formal innovation, exploring painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, and ceramics. His work in Vallauris constitutes one of the most original chapters of his career and is an essential reference point for understanding the evolution of contemporary artistic ceramics.