Decorated Frame (Cadre decoré)
Decorative art, painted wooden frame • Pablo Picasso
Style & Movement
Modernist with Mediterranean/Classical influences
Medium & Technique
Oil and potentially mixed media on white-painted wood with freehand brushwork and line drawing
Creation Period
circa 1952-1954
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 75 x 60 cm; vertical rectangular orientation with wide flat surface (casement) suitable for painting.
Subject Description
A wooden frame featuring various mythological and Mediterranean vignettes: a reclining nude in the top center, a bull's head (minotaur motif), a fish, classical vases, a long-haired woman pouring water from a jug, and a bearded male figure resembling a Greco-Roman deity or artist. The iconography reflects Picasso's fascination with antiquity and life in the South of France.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good; the painted surface shows some aging and minor abrasions consistent with a vintage functional object.
Estimated Market Value
$500,000 - $1,000,000
Auction Estimate
$400,000 - $800,000
Provenance History
Formerly in the collection of the artist; likely gifted or held by descendants before entering a public collection (Museu Picasso, Barcelona).
Art Historical Significance
This piece demonstrates Picasso's desire to dissolve the boundary between fine art and functional objects. It belongs to his post-war period in Vallauris where he experimented with ceramics and unconventional supports, reclaiming classical subjects with a playful, spontaneous line.
Notable Features
Features quintessential Picasso motifs (Bull, Fish, Classical Head); the frames themselves were often considered integral to his vision of the artwork it contained.
Condition Issues
Minor surface scuffing at the edges; slight yellowing of the white base coat; potential drying cracks typical of oil on wood.
Conservation Recommendations
Environmentally controlled display (50% RH, 20°C); UV-filtered lighting; avoid direct handling of the painted surface.