Made in collaboration with François Victor Hugo and cast in 23 karat gold, the piece reflects Picasso’s effort to create small, wearable sculptures with the spontaneity of his drawings. The medallion presents a wide smiling face framed by a playful ring of symbols resembling an invented alphabet. Its simplified, almost cartoon-like features convey joy tinged with strangeness, lending the face a subtly surreal quality. The etched surface catches the light, giving the smile a shifting presence.

Produced in an edition of 20 with two artist’s proofs per design, each piece is signed by the artist and marked with full assay and atelier stamps. Exhibited individually at Hedonist Gallery, the medallion stands as both an intimate sculpture and a timeless statement of form.