Koller View 4/20

13 In the small town of Vallauris on the French Riviera, utilitarian ceramics have been made since the 16 th century. However, art pottery did not flourish in the town until the 1940s–1970s, when Pablo Picasso be- gan working with ceramics there. In 1946 the Spaniard visited an exhibition of the local pottery cooperative and immediately recognised the potential of this tra- ditional technique for his own art. Accompanied by Preview of the Prints & Multiples auction on 5 December 2020 Variation, Series, Continuation the local Ramié family of potters and their Madoura workshop, Picasso produced sev- eral thousand ceramic objects in the course of a quarter of a century (ill. 1). At that time, the artist lived in Vallauris in his villa ’La Gal- loise’, where Robert Doisneau took the fa- mous photo of Picasso in which loaves of bread appear to be his hands on a kitchen table. Later, other artists such as Matisse, Chagall, Le Corbusier and Alberto Giaco­ metti moved to Vallauris and worked in the same workshop. Picasso’s late work cannot be understood without considering the sculptural aspect of his ceramics, closely linked to his graphic and painterly works from the same period. These years are particularly characterised by the ever-deeper exploration of certain motifs and themes through series, vari- ations and repetitions. At the same time, Picasso’s ceramics embody a light-hearted and playful aspect of his art. Here, tradition- al forms meet the artist’s irrepressible joy of experi- mentation and subtle humour. The fact that this serial work not only opened up new artistic paths but also set the course for Picasso emotionally had to do with an encounter in the Ramiés’ workshop: Jacqueline Roque worked there as a saleswoman. She became his partner and wife and remained at his side until the artist’s death in 1973. Picasso made numerous por- traits of her, one of which will be offered in the 5 De- cember auction (ill. 3). 1 Pablo Picasso (1881–1973). A selection of ceramics from our auction: Picador. 1953; Lampe Femme. 1955; Tête de chèvre de profil. 1952; Taureau, marli aux feuilles. 1957, Chouette effarouchée. 1955; Visage no. 202. 1963. 2 Pablo Picasso (1881–1973). Françoise au nœud dans les cheveux. 1946. Lithograph. 11/50. 66 × 50 cm. Estimate: CHF 30 000/40 000 3 Pablo Picasso (1881–1973). Grande tête de Jacque- line au chapeau. 1962. Colour linocut. 15/50. 75 × 62 cm. Estimate: CHF 80 000/120 000 1 3 2 © Succession Picasso / 2020, ProLitteris, Zurich © Succession Picasso / 2020, ProLitteris, Zurich © Succession Picasso / 2020, ProLitteris, Zurich FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PRINTS & MULTIPLES Silke Stahlschmidt stahlschmidt@kollerauctions.com ONLINE CATALOGUES www.kollerauctions.com