Taureau (Bull)
Ceramics
Cubist Decoration
23.0 x 29.0 cm
Galleria d'Arte Moderna
The artwork displayed on this page is protected by copyright law, which means we cannot legally create or sell an identical reproduction. This protection is enforced under international agreements such as the Berne Convention and by national laws, including those outlined by the U.S. Copyright Law - Title 17.
This method fully complies with copyright regulations because it does not involve copying or duplicating the protected artwork. Instead, it is a creative reinterpretation - a new painting that is influenced by the original but not identical to it.
Giclée / Art Print
Museum-quality giclée or canvas print with fast production and flexible finish options. ( Buy Hand Made Painting
Switch to Digital Image)
Pick from our preset sizes that match the artwork's original proportions.
Type the width and the height you need, to fit your frame or your wall. A print can only be cut, never made bigger than the picture, so a size with a different shape loses a part of the image. We send you a digital mockup to approve before we print anything. The picture shown on this page does not show the real cut — only the mockup does.
Worldwide Delivery () in 2 weeks instead of standard 4/5 weeks. (24 October)
Free Worldwide Express Shipping
High-Quality Linen Canvas
Full Shipping Insurance
Customs Tax Refund Guarantee
True Color Matching Guarantee
100-Day Return Policy (Defects Only)
100% Money-Back Guarantee
Bulk Discount Offer
Taureau (Bull)
Giclée / Art Print
Reproduction Size
-
Total Price
$ 81
A Bold Statement in Terracotta: Picasso’s “Taureau”
Pablo Picasso's "Taureau" (Bull), a ceramic vase produced during his vibrant period working with the Madoura workshop in Vallauris, is more than just a decorative object; it’s a concentrated distillation of the artist’s evolving visual language. Created between 1946 and the early 1950s, this piece embodies a fascinating intersection of artistic ambition, traditional craft, and the enduring power of symbolism – a testament to Picasso's willingness to experiment while retaining a deep respect for the materials and processes at hand.
The work’s immediate impact is one of striking simplicity. Rendered in stark black and white with strategic accents of yellow and blue, the bull’s head dominates the composition, presented slightly off-center against the pale terracotta background. Picasso deliberately employed a graphic style, reminiscent of his Cubist explorations but tempered by the inherent qualities of ceramics. The bold outlines, achieved through careful application of paint or glaze, create a sense of immediacy and force – the animal feels both monumental and contained within the vase’s form. Notice how the lines aren't perfectly uniform; these slight imperfections speak to the handmade nature of the piece, adding a layer of tactile authenticity that elevates it beyond mere reproduction.
The Fusion of Master and Artisan
Picasso’s relationship with the Madoura workshop was pivotal in this period. While he famously resisted physically handling the pottery wheel himself – preferring to direct the process from his studio – he became utterly absorbed by every stage of creation, from initial sketches and shape design to the final decoration. This collaborative approach is beautifully illustrated here. The vase’s rounded form, a deliberate departure from purely geometric abstraction, reflects a conscious engagement with the inherent curves of the material. It's important to remember that Suzanne and Georges Ramié, the husband-and-wife team running the workshop, were dedicated to preserving traditional techniques alongside embracing new artistic influences – a dynamic perfectly mirrored in Picasso’s involvement.
Symbolism and the Enduring Power of the Bull
The bull itself is a potent symbol, deeply rooted in human culture. Throughout history, it has represented strength, virility, courage, and even chaos. Picasso frequently utilized this motif throughout his career, imbuing it with personal meaning – often reflecting themes of power, aggression, or the primal instincts that lie beneath the surface of civilized society. In “Taureau,” the bull’s simplified form seems to embody a controlled energy, a contained force ready to be unleashed. The strategic use of yellow highlights on the horns and body further emphasizes this sense of intensity.
A Window into Picasso's Late Style
“Taureau” offers a compelling glimpse into Picasso’s artistic trajectory during his later years. It represents a shift towards a more decorative, graphic style, while retaining the fragmented forms characteristic of Cubism. The slightly angled perspective and careful attention to detail in rendering the vase’s surface demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of spatial relationships and material qualities. This piece isn't simply a ceramic object; it’s a miniature manifesto of Picasso’s artistic vision – a bold statement rendered in terracotta, inviting contemplation on art, symbolism, and the enduring legacy of one of history’s greatest artists. A reproduction captures this essence beautifully, bringing a touch of Picasso’s genius into any space.
Questions & Answers
What is a reproduction of "Taureau (Bull)" by Pablo Picasso recommended for?
The recommended use of a print of "Taureau (Bull)" is statement.
What are the reproduction rights of "Taureau (Bull)" at the Galleria d'Arte Moderna?
"Taureau (Bull)" by Pablo Picasso, held at the Galleria d'Arte Moderna, is still protected by copyright. This status determines whether reproductions of the image may be made.
What feeling is "Taureau (Bull)" associated with?
The emotional tone recorded for "Taureau (Bull)" by Pablo Picasso is melancholic. It summarizes the feeling the work expresses.
Artist Biography
The boy from Málaga
A child's first words in Málaga were “piz, piz,” a small attempt at saying pencil. This early pull toward the lead and paper was nurtured by his father, José Ruiz y Blasco, who taught him the basics of figure drawing and oil painting. The boy learned to copy the masters and draw from plaster casts under a disciplined eye. As he grew, the family moved through A Coruña and Barcelona. These years were marked by the quiet weight of loss, particularly the death of his sister, Conchita, from diphtheria when she was only seven. Such shadows would later find their way into the heavy, blue-green tones of his early work.
By thirteen, he was already taking entrance exams for advanced classes in Barcelona, finishing in a week what took others a month. His hands moved with a precision that even his father noticed, once seeing him paint over an unfinished sketch of a pigeon with such accuracy that the instructor realized the student had surpassed him. He eventually moved to Paris, a city where he would spend much of his adult life, constantly shifting his focus from one way of seeing to another.
Shifting palettes and fractured forms
The early twentieth century saw his work move through distinct phases of color and mood. There was the Blue Period, where the canvases were filled with beggars, the blind, and the lonely, rendered in somber shades of blue. This gave way to the Rose Period, a time when pinks, oranges, and reds appeared, often featuring the figures of circus performers like harlequins and acrobats. These years showed a man reacting to his own life and the world around him through the temperature of his palette.
In 1907, the way he handled space changed fundamentally with Les Demoiselles d'Avignon. Influenced by African masks and Iberian sculpture, he began to break objects into geometric shapes. Alongside Georges Braque, he developed Cubism. This involved two main stages:
- Analytic Cubism: A method of fragmenting objects into muted, geometric pieces as if dissecting the form itself.
- Synthetic Cubism: An approach that brought in collage elements like newspaper clippings and fabric scraps to add texture and new layers.
A life of constant change
His work never settled into a single way of being. He explored Neoclassicism with large, monumental figures and later engaged with the imagery of Surrealism, using distorted perspectives to tap into the subconscious. The violence of the Spanish Civil War left its mark on his canvas in 1937 through Guernica. This large oil painting used a stark palette of black, white, and grey to show the suffering of a bombed town, featuring a gored horse, a bull, and screaming women. It remains a heavy, monochromatic response to the chaos of war.
In his later years, he continued to experiment with ceramics, sculpture, and printmaking. He even created large-scale public works, such as the 1967 steel sculpture in Chicago, which was inspired by the head of his Afghan Hound, Kabul. He died in Mougins, France, leaving behind a massive collection of work that spans over seventy-six years of experimentation.
Pablo Picasso
1881 - 1973 , Spain
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Pablo Diego José Ruiz Picasso
- Nationality: Spanish
- Date Of Birth: 1881
- Date Of Death: 1973
- Place Of Birth: Malaga, Spain
- Notable Artworks:
- Les Demoiselles d'Avignon
- Guernica
- The Old Guitarist
- La Vie
- Family of Saltimbanques
- Artistic Movement Or Style: Cubism, Surrealism
- Artists Who Influenced This Artist:
- Velázquez
- Goya
- Matisse
- Artists Or Movements Influenced By This Artist:
- Cubism
- Modern art

Glass option is only available in size under 110 CM
