In Taureau sous l'arbre, Picasso unites two of his lifelong fascinations—animals, particularly the bull as a symbol of strength and Spanish cultural identity, and the natural world. Rendered in bold, almost primitive brushstrokes across the glazed surface of the plate, the bull stands firm beneath a stylized tree, its monumental presence contrasting with the delicate balance of the composition. The scene is framed by a dotted border, a playful decorative touch that situates the central motif within the circular form of the dish.

This ceramic demonstrates Picasso’s ingenuity in transforming an everyday object into a bearer of myth, culture, and personal symbolism. The bull was central to Picasso’s art, from the Tauromaquia etchings to the iconic Guernica. Here, transposed onto faïence, the bull is reduced to a raw, almost totemic presence, emphasizing Picasso’s ability to distill form and meaning with remarkable economy of line and gesture.

Picasso’s collaboration with the Madoura workshop in Vallauris revitalized the ancient Mediterranean traditions of ceramic art. Through works like Taureau sous l'arbre, he bridged fine art and craft, breaking down hierarchies and redefining what art could be. Each plate from this edition carries both the imprint of Picasso’s imagination and the tangible intimacy of a functional object—an embodiment of his postwar desire to create art that was direct, democratic, and joyous in its materiality.