Pablo Picasso

Ernest Hemingway famously wrote, “Bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death and in which the degree of brilliance in the performance is left to the fighter's honour.” The drama, heroism, and ferocity of the Spanish sport has long captivated generations of artists, poets and writers. Drawn to its ritual and symbolism, Spanish native Pablo Picasso depicted bullfighting, and the bull, consistently throughout his oeuvre. The elongated, elegant shape of Picasso’s Arène vase is unique amongst his clay editions. Using this distinctive shape allowed the artist to recreate a bullfighting arena in the round, complete with tiered stands full of onlookers captivated by the bullfight below. As the vase turns, the fight seemingly unfolds in motion.