Plat ovale 1953

This ceramic plate, "Plat ovale," was made in 1953 by Picasso. It’s got this casual, almost doodle-like quality, right? Picasso's known for those wild faces, and here he's thrown one onto a plate. I love how he uses the dark glaze as a ground, then scratches and paints on top of it. Look at the beard! It’s like a bunch of quick, rhythmic lines. The eyes are so simple, just a dot and a curve, but they give the face so much character. And those little splashes of orange? They're just slapped on, like he's not even trying, but they totally work. It reminds me of Miro, actually, that same playful spirit and interest in the absurd, and using simple forms to evoke something bigger. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be serious or perfect. Sometimes, the most interesting stuff comes out of just messing around.