Pablo Picasso
PABLO PICASSO "CARNAVAL" LINOCUT, 1965
Pablo Picasso (1881â1973) was one of the most transformative figures of 20th-century art. A restless innovator, his work reshaped the possibilities of representation across painting, sculpture, printmaking, and ceramics.
Moving both fluidly and abruptly between styles, Picasso approached art-making as a continual process of reinvention, combining tradition and experimentation into a single, urgent language. Within his vast and mutable practice, motifs such as the clown, the king, the harlequin, the matador and the buffoon recur as potent symbols of performance, vulnerability, and the shifting masks of (masculine) identity.
TĂȘte de Bouffon is at once playful and unsettled, an ambiguous portrait of the jester that evokes paradoxes of performance: the laughter that hides sadness, the mask that conceals the self, and the role that becomes identity. As the figure oscillates between mockery and melancholy, he is not just a performer, but a symbol of human contradiction and complexity.
The figure's expression is highly ambiguous: the eyes, rendered with simple oval shapes, seem to peer out unevenly; a droplet-like form on one cheek could be a tear or a stylized flourish. The exaggerated crown flares into curling, organic shapes that suggest both festivity and distortion.
Created in 1965, "TĂȘte de Bouffon" belongs to Picassoâs prolific late period, a time marked by an outpouring of prints in which he revisited lifelong motifs with a looser, more distilled graphic language. In these years, he returned repeatedly to the commedia dellâarte figures of his earlier decades, reworking them with renewed immediacy and humor.
The print reflects Picasso's late-style synthesis: A compression of decades of experimentation into bold contours, simplified forms, and an almost improvisational energy.
Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto gallery.
"Carnaval"
France, 1965
Linocut in colors on Arches paper
Signed "Picasso" and numbered in pencil along lower edge
From an edition of 160
Published by Le Patriote, Nice, France
Printed by Imprimerie Arnéra, Vallauris, France
29.5"H 24.25"W (sheet)
43.5"H 38.5"W (framed)
Very good condition
Literature: BLOCH 1193; BAER 1356
- Where does the inventory ship from?
Our inventory is divided between New York and Toronto.Â
- Where do you ship to?
We can ship anywhere. Typically when we ship within North America we prefer to use FedEx or DHL. To Europe, Asia and beyond we generally use DHL.Â
-Â How much does it cost to ship?
For shipments within North America, we typically charge a flat rate fee. Many items on our site will list the rate. For shipping outside of North America, we can easily provide a quote and will look for the most efficient and economical option.
Most of the items on our site can be easily shipped internationally.
Occasionally we will recommend that an artwork be removed from its frame for shipping. Larger framed works are typically framed with plexiglass. We export over 80% of what we sell, so we are comfortable shipping anywhere.Â
-Â Are there additional taxes or fees?
When a work is valued above $2,500 usd there is a possibility of tax of 0.35%, but this is applied sporadically. There can similarly be an additional fee for customs brokerage and this can range from $20 - $65. US Taxes, duties and customs brokerage are not included in our flat rate shipping. However most of our shipments to the US enter without any additional fees.Â
-Â Do you provide a certificate of authenticity?
Yes, we guarantee everything we sell. We can provide both a digital and printed version of our certificate of authenticity.Â
What is your return policy?
- Caviar20 wants you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase. We have a 7 day no-questions full refund return policy for your purchase. Shipping charges are non-refundable. Return shipping is the responsibility of the customer. After 8 days returns are given a credit note. There is no expiration for our credit notes.
- What payment methods do you accept?
Canadian clients are welcomed and encouraged to pay with interac.
Â