Exposition Céramique Vallauris

Pablo Picasso
Exposition Céramique Vallauris
linocut
July 2, 1959

An original hand-signed Pablo Picasso linocut print.

July 2, 1959

Original linocut printed in two colors on wove paper bearing the “ARCHES” block letter watermark

Hand-signed in pencil in the margin lower right Picasso, also signed and dated in the block lower left (in reverse).

A superb impression of the only state, from the edition of 175, numbered in pencil in the margin lower left. Published by the Association des potiers de Vallauris; printed by Hidalgo Arnéra, Vallauris.

Catalog: Bloch 1286; Baer 1216.B.a; Czwiklitzer 35; Rodrigo vol. III, no. 086.

25 1/16 x 20 inches

Sheet Size: 29 7/8 x 22 1/8 inches

This is the second poster of a series of two which were commissioned by the Vallauris Potters Association. The posters were done by Picasso on different dates and designed with a drawing “to create the feeling of a multiplicity of forms”. The colors are similar and the artist used as the motif in both posters a pottery piece which is supplemented by a hand-written text.
Picasso used light brown and black. The piece is rectangular and shows clear pre-Columbian reminiscences.
In the two posters of this short series, Picasso achived a balanced composition which breathes in spite of the asymmetric outlines and geometric shapes which he used. This balance is underlined by small tracings on the sides, which look like beams illuminating the pottery piece inside the plate.
These pottery pieces have an impressive appearance due to the harmony of the colors in the composition of both posters and in spite of the simplicity of the resources applied.