Gros oiseau visage noir (A.R. 118)

Wings raised as though ready to take flight, Gros oiseau visage noir is an exquisite work that demonstrates Picasso’s experimentation with form and challenges the boundaries of the ceramic medium. The bird, particularly the owl - ‘chouette’-, is a leitmotif in the artist’s oeuvre, an animal that becomes a metaphor for Picasso’s own creative flair and the soaring magnitude of his artistic expression.

Here the bird’s wings are depicted along the two handles that emerge on either side of this vessel. The zig-zag and V-shaped monochromatic marks along these handles evoke the bird’s rustling feathers and create a sense of movement within this beautiful piece. These marks guide the viewer’s gaze towards a face on the bird’s chest, its left eye partially closed suggesting a playful wink on behalf of the artist to his fellow viewer. This literal and metaphorical clin d’œil creates a dialogue between us and the piece, a playful nod to the act of looking and admiring the possibilities of the ceramic medium. The bright flicks of orange engobe throughout the piece contrast the monochromatic palette, creating fascinating patterns for the viewer. Natural subject matter is a recurring theme in Picasso’s oeuvre; the artist moved to the Côte d’Azur in 1947, taking inspiration from the enchanting natural scenery of this region. This would spark the beginning of a beautiful collaboration with Georges and Suzanne Ramié at the Madoura pottery studio, Vallauris.