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“If bullfighters… managed to inspire such artists as Goya and Picasso, they can rest content, having accomplished an important mission”
—Luis Miguel Dominiguin, matadorA quintessential Spanish spectacle characterised by drama, violence and machismo – the corrida, or bullfight, was of enduring fascination to Pablo Picasso. Much alike Francisco de Goya and Fernando Botero, Picasso was captivated by the tauro and picador motif, returning to it repeatedly throughout his career. His interpretation of this popular motif was multifaceted; he explored its heroism, vulnerability, and the emotional intensity of man’s encounter with the formidable bull. In this exploration, the bull becomes the physical embodiment of Picasso’s and, by extension, all of mankind’s split personality: conscience and civility versus an underlying animal instinct that begets lust and violence.
The traditional Spanish corrida is divided into three acts known as suertes, which were documented by Antonio Carnicero in his 1787-90 series of etchings entitled Colección de las principales suertes de una corrida de toros (Collection of the main acts of a bullfight). In the present lot, Picasso presents the climactic suerte in which the picador stabs the bull with his pique. The visceral nature of this moment is indicated by the red brushmarks between the horse and bull, which evoke a gruesome pool of blood. Nonetheless, amidst the violent triumph of man over beast that takes place in this scene, the bull remains notably stoic. As the bull stands face-to-face with the picador, not yet defeated, we are led to ponder the distinction, or lack thereof, between man and beast.
Left: Francisco de Goya Bullfight, Suerte de Varas, 1824. J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. Image: Digital image courtesy of Getty’s Open Access Program
Right: Suerte II: Picador on horseback about to stab a bull with a pique; two toreros behind him to left (two impressions on the same sheet), Anonymous, Spanish, 19th century Spanish, After Antonio Carnicero Spanish. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Image: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Max G. Wildnauer Fund, 1978, 1978.643.15(2)In the mid-1940s, Picasso's love for the bullfight surged simultaneously with his new-found passion for the medium of clay. Following WWII and the Nazi Occupation of France, Picasso sought solace in the South, establishing a studio at Madoura pottery atelier in the charming village of Vallauris. There, Picasso not only immersed himself in the art of pottery but also found inspiration once again in bullfighting. He frequently attended bullfights held in Nîmes and Arles and, on the first Sunday in August from 1954 to 1960, a corrida was hosted in the Vallauris village square, presided over by Picasso himself. At Madoura, the age-old medium of clay offered Picasso a new artistic avenue to explore and invigorate. The present lot echoes elements of historic ceramics, such as the vignettes of hunting scenes depicted in medieval Spanish plates, to the oval form and blue hues of English Staffordshire dishes. Combined with the corrida subject matter, this unique Picador plate showcases Picasso’s ability to seamlessly blend traditional techniques with his signature draughtsmanship and contemporary vigour.
Left: Bowl with a Horseman Spearing a Serpent, Spanish, late 1300s or early 1400s. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Image: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of George Blumenthal, 1941, 41.100.173
Right: Platter, Enoch Wood & Sons, ca. 1828-46. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Image: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Bequest of Mary Mandeville Johnston, from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. S. Johnston, 1914, 14.102.90Provenance
Jane Kahan Gallery, New York
Literature
Georges Ramié 92
Artist Biography
Pablo Picasso
Spanish • 1881 - 1973
One of the most dominant and influential artists of the 20th century, Pablo Picasso was a master of endless reinvention. While significantly contributing to the movements of Surrealism, Neoclassicism and Expressionism, he is best known for pioneering the groundbreaking movement of Cubism alongside fellow artist Georges Braque in the 1910s. In his practice, he drew on African and Iberian visual culture as well as the developments in the fast-changing world around him.
Throughout his long and prolific career, the Spanish-born artist consistently pushed the boundaries of art to new extremes. Picasso's oeuvre is famously characterized by a radical diversity of styles, ranging from his early forays in Cubism to his Classical Period and his later more gestural expressionist work, and a diverse array of media including printmaking, drawing, ceramics and sculpture as well as theater sets and costumes designs.
7
Picador (Bullfighter) (G.R. 92)
1949
Unique white earthenware rectangular dish painted in colours, engraved and glazed.
32 x 38 cm (12 5/8 x 14 7/8 in.)
With the Madoura Plein Feu pottery stamp on the underside.
Estimate
£40,000 - 60,000 ‡♠
UK enquiries
EditionsLondon@phillips.com
+44 20 7318 4024
Robert Kennan
Head of Editions, Europe
rkennan@phillips.com
US enquiries
Editions@phillips.com
+1 212 940 1220
Kelly Troester
Worldwide Head of Modern Editions
ktroester@phillips.com
Pablo Picasso - Paper and Clay: Online Auction
26 October - 2 November 2023
1
Pablo Picasso
Visage no. 0 (Face no. 0) (A.R. 458)
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡♠
Sold for £8,255
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2
Pablo Picasso
Visage no. 111 (Face no. 111) (A.R. 476)
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡♠
Sold for £6,985
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3
Pablo Picasso
Visage no. 130 (Face no. 130) (A.R. 479)
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ‡♠
Sold for £8,255
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4
Pablo Picasso
Visage no. 202 (Face no. 202) (A.R. 495)
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000 ‡♠
Sold for £10,795
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5
Pablo Picasso
Visage gris (Grey Face) (A.R. 206)
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000 ‡♠
Sold for £8,890
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6
Pablo Picasso
Visage (Face) (A.R. 290)
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £4,445
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7
Pablo Picasso
Picador (Bullfighter) (G.R. 92)
Estimate £40,000 - 60,000 ‡♠
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8
Pablo Picasso
Corrida aux personnages (Bullfight with Figures) (A.R. 104)
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 ‡♠
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9
Pablo Picasso
Toros (Bulls) (A.R. 161)
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,286
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10
Pablo Picasso
Centaure (Centaur) (A.R. 102)
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ♠
Sold for £3,048
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11
Pablo Picasso
Scène de tauromachie (Bullfighting Scene) (A.R. 393)
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,540
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12
Pablo Picasso
Taureaux, Marli aux Feuilles (Bull, with Rim Decorated with Leaves) (A.R. 394)
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,159
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13
Pablo Picasso
Corrida (Bullfight) (A.R. 182)
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £5,334
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14
Pablo Picasso
Picador (Bullfighter) (A.R. 160)
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
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15
Pablo Picasso
Faune cavalier (Cavalier Faun) (A.R. 336)
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ♠
Sold for £7,620
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16
Pablo Picasso
Tête d'Histrion (Histrion's Head) (Bl. 1849, Ba. 1360)
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ‡♠
Sold for £16,510
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17
Pablo Picasso
Yan bandeau noir (Yan Black Headband) (A.R. 514)
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ♠
Sold for £6,096
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18
Pablo Picasso
Yan soleil (Yan Sun) (A.R. 516)
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ♠
Sold for £5,715
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19
Pablo Picasso
Le déjeuner sur l’herbe (Luncheon on the Grass) (A.R. 517)
Estimate £50,000 - 70,000 ‡♠
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20
Pablo Picasso
Vase au décor pastel (Vase with Pastel Decoration) (A.R. 190)
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 ‡♠
Sold for £10,795
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21No Reserve
Pablo Picasso
Personnages et cavalier (Figures and Horseman) (A.R. 540)
Estimate £800 - 1,200 •‡♠
Sold for £2,159
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22
Pablo Picasso
Visage de femme "Pomone" ("Pomona" Woman's Face) (A.R. 590)
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡♠
Sold for £13,970
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23
Pablo Picasso
Petit visage barbu (Little Bearded Face) (A.R. 557)
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,413
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24
Pablo Picasso
Neptune foncé (Dark Neptune) (A.R. 580)
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ♠
Sold for £4,826
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25
After Pablo Picasso
Portraits imaginaire (Imaginary Portraits): four plates
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £17,780
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26
After Pablo Picasso
Portraits imaginaire (Imaginary Portraits): four plates
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £21,590
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27
After Pablo Picasso
Portraits imaginaire (Imaginary Portraits): four plates
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £19,050
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28
After Pablo Picasso
Portraits imaginaire (Imaginary Portraits): four plates
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £21,590
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29
After Pablo Picasso
Portraits imaginaire (Imaginary Portraits): four plates
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £17,780
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30
After Pablo Picasso
Portraits imaginaire (Imaginary Portraits): four plates
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £19,050
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31
After Pablo Picasso
Portraits imaginaire (Imaginary Portraits): two plates
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £16,510
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32
Pablo Picasso
Chope visage (Face Jug) (A.R. 434)
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ‡♠
Sold for £6,985
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33
Pablo Picasso
Sujet poisson (Fish Subject) (A.R. 139)
Estimate £3,500 - 4,500 ‡♠
Sold for £7,620
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34
Pablo Picasso
Oiseau no. 76 (Bird no. 76) (A.R. 481)
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £1,905
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35
Pablo Picasso
Chouette (Wood-Owl) (A.R. 605)
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 ‡♠
Sold for £16,510
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36
Pablo Picasso
Oiseau à la huppe (Bird with Tuft) (A.R. 173)
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £1,905
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37
Pablo Picasso
Taureau et picador (Bull and Bullfighter) (A.R. 369)
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ♠
Sold for £5,080
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38
Pablo Picasso
Profil de taureau (Bull's Profile) (A.R. 317)
Estimate £3,500 - 4,500 ‡♠
Sold for £5,334
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39No Reserve
Pablo Picasso
Taureau sous l'arbre (Bull under the Tree) (A.R. 159)
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 •‡♠
Sold for £1,651
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40
Pablo Picasso
Joueur de flûte (Flute player) (see A.R. 126-128)
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ‡♠
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41
After Pablo Picasso
Nature morte aux poires et au pichet (Still Life with Pears and Pitcher)
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡♠
Sold for £11,430
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42
Pablo Picasso
Bouquet à la pomme (Bunch with Apple) (A.R. 307)
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ♠
Sold for £3,810
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43No Reserve
Pablo Picasso
Trois personnages sur tremplin (Three Figures on Trampoline) (A.R. 374)
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 •‡♠
Sold for £1,778
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44
Pablo Picasso
Danseurs (Dancers) (A.R. 388)
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,540
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45
Pablo Picasso
Têtes (Heads) (A.R. 367)
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,794
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46
Pablo Picasso
Profil de Jacqueline (Jacqueline's Profile) (A.R. 385)
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £4,826
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47No Reserve
Pablo Picasso
Sylvette (A.R. 266)
Estimate £1,000 - 1,500 •♠
Sold for £2,794
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48
Pablo Picasso
Sylvette (A.R. 267)
Estimate £1,200 - 1,800 ‡♠
Sold for £1,778
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49
Pablo Picasso
Grosse courtisane, avec une vieillard et un spectateur en costume (Large Courtesan, with an Old Man and a Spectator in Costume), plate 72 from Série 347 (Bl. 1552, Ba. 1568)
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £1,905
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50
Pablo Picasso
Couple nu posant (Nude Couple Posing), plate 174 from Série 347 (Bl. 1654, Ba. 1670)
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,540
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51
Pablo Picasso
Vieux clown avec une ravissante personne (Old Clown with a Lovely Person), plate 49 from Série 347 (Bl. 1529, Ba. 1545)
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £3,302
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52
Pablo Picasso
Grosse prostituée et 'mousquetaire' (Large Prostitute and 'Musketeer'), plate 175 from Série 347 (Bl. 1655, Ba. 1671)
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,159
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53
Pablo Picasso
Pêcheur à la ligne (Angler) (A.R. 262)
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,032
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54
Pablo Picasso
Peintre, ou écrivain, avec deux femmes (Painter, or Writer, with Two Women), plate 157 from Série 347 (Bl. 1637, Ba. 1653)
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,540
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55
Pablo Picasso
Visage de faune (Faun's Face) (A.R. 256)
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £1,905
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56
Pablo Picasso
Visage au trait oblique (Face with Oblique Line) (A.R. 588)
Estimate £2,500 - 3,500 ‡♠
Sold for £3,048
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57
Pablo Picasso
Visage (Face) (A.R. 243)
Estimate £500 - 700 ‡♠
Sold for £1,905
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58
Pablo Picasso
Couple posant pour un peintre en habit de cour (Couple Posing for a Painter in Court Dress), plate 214 from Série 347 (Bl. 1694, Ba. 1710)
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £6,985
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59
Pablo Picasso
Mille et une nuits et Célestine: La jeune esclave (A Thousand and One Nights and Célestine: The Young Slave), plate 94 from Série 347 (Bl. 1574, Ba. 1590)
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £6,985
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60No Reserve
Pablo Picasso
Femmes à leur toilette, avec Degas rêvant (Women at their Toilette, with Degas Daydreaming), plate 84 from Série 156 (Bl. 1939, Ba. 1948)
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 •‡♠
Sold for £4,064
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