DALLAS, TX.- Among the top lots in Heritage Auctions’ Oct. 22 Prints and Multiples Auction is Le déjeuner sur l'herbe by Pablo Picasso. Anticipated to sell for $40,000, the title is translated, Luncheon on the Grass. The earthenware plate is one of the artist’s many desirable interpretations of the original 1863 oil painting by Edouard Manet, and it leads a selection of 56 lots of Picasso’s ceramic and print works, by far the largest group of its kind in the sale.

A particularly impressive collection of ceramics on offer demonstrates Picasso’s noted ability to adapt to a multitude of media while fully expressing his creativity. The group is offered at various price points to assure that, no matter the budget, welcome entry estimates greet every collector, said Holly Sherratt, Director of Prints and Multiples.




Picasso began working with ceramics toward the end of his career; he experimented with straightforward artworks such as Visage à la barbiche, 1968 (est. $8,000-12,000), an earthenware plate featuring the face of a man. He expanded his approach not only to different shapes but subject matter, as seen in the Terre de faïence pitcher titled Tête de femme couronnée de fleurs, 1954 ($25,000-35,000), La pique, 1950 (est. $6,000-8,000) and Toros, 1952 (est. $4,000-6,000).

Picasso eventually works his way up to create more ambitious forms, such as pitchers and vases such as Chouetton, 1952 (est. $6,000-8,000) depicting an owl. The artist even adapted the subject matter to the form he created similar to Visage, 1955 ($10,000-15,000) where the handle of the pitcher depicts a woman’s hair.

Additional desirable artworks include Figure de proue, 1952 ($4,000-6,000) and Losange à la danse, 1971 (est. $400-600).