Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso
Deux Femmes Allongées
1950
Painted and glazed ceramic

After the Second World War, Pablo Picasso left Paris and moved to the south of France. He settled in Vallauris, where he came into contact with the Madoura ceramic workshop, learning its techniques and experimenting with forms and colours. It was love at first sight, inspiring new creative possibilities.

The vase, dated 9 August 1950, is inspired by Greek figured pottery and features two female figures at a banquet: the first, outlined in black, rests on her elbow while holding a kantharos—a cup—in her right hand; the second is rendered “in negative,” in red against a black background. As in ancient pottery, Picasso often used the entire surface of his creations to develop narrative motifs that unfold from one side to the other.