Bouquet à la Pomme by Pablo Picasso reworks the still life through the direct, material language of ceramics.. Made in 1956 at the Madoura pottery in Vallauris in an edition of 400, the image confirms a point when Picasso was moving comfortably between drawing, painting and clay, adapting familiar subjects to the demands of the medium.

At the centre, a vase holds a loose arrangement of flowers, with fruit scattered below. The forms are simplified—petals, stems and fruit reduced to a few quick marks—yet remain immediately legible. The apple appears as a rounded green shape with dark accents, anchoring the lower half of the work, while the bouquet above spreads outward in lighter, more fluid strokes.

The surface carries much of the energy. Green and yellow ochre glazes are applied with a looseness that allows them to shift and settle across the clay, while areas of blue and grey move through the upper field, creating a sense of depth without fixing the space. The contrast between these broader washes and the sharper linear elements keeps the piece in harmony.

Picasso’s use of oxidised paraffin introduces subtle resistance within the glaze, allowing certain lines to hold their clarity against the more fluid colour. The effect is sits somewhere between drawing and painting, with the ceramic surface adding weight and texture.

Picasso was deeply engaged with still life in various forms, returning to it as a way of working through balance and repetition. In ceramics, the subject becomes more open, less fixed, shaped as much by the behaviour of glaze and clay as by line.

Bouquet à la Pomme coheres through that interplay. The image isn’t overworked—forms remain loose, colour is allowed to move, and the plate itself keeps everything contained.

For more information or to buy Bouquet à la pomme by Pablo Picasso, contact our specialists using the enquiry button above.
Explore Pablo Picasso original art for sale, or speak to our team about selling Pablo Picasso ceramics.