Theme & Variations Decorative Plate #77 (Crying Face) 

"Theme & Variations Decorative Plate #77 (Crying Face)" is a black and white ceramic plate featuring a graphic image of a woman’s face with tear drops falling from her eyes. The image is rendered in a stippled style and features a stylized and exaggerated presentation of the human form, making it instantly recognizable as a piece by the Italian designer Piero Fornasetti (1913-1988). Known for his whimsical and eccentric designs, Fornasetti’s work often incorporates motifs of faces, architectural details, and classical art. This particular work is representative of his popular "Theme and Variations" series, a collection of decorative objects featuring repeating motifs with subtle variations, creating both a sense of whimsy and a fascinating visual puzzle.