Jose Llorens Artigas was a Spanish ceramicist from Barcelona who moved to Paris in 1922. Beginning in Paris and continuing throughout his career, he collaborated with painters on ceramic and sculptural projects. His associations included work with Raoul Dufy, Georges Braques, Albert Marquet and Juan Miró. His work was characterized by highly developed fine stoneware and glazes. Artigas worked with Dufy from 1922-30, incorporating motifs of dancers, garlands, foliage and fountains on vases.

Based on Artigas' activities at the time of this portrait, it made sense for Kertész to have photographed the playful potter in such a setting and from such a distance, leaning on his terrace railing. In 1927 Artigas joined forces with Dufy and the architect Nicholas Marubio and produced a noted series of decorative pieces utilizing architectural and landscape themes with foilage.