Picasso Carnaval (Carnival), 1958 is a delightful portrait of a charming jester posed in a three-quarter profile. One of his most favored subjects by the artist himself and collectors alike, circus performers appear across his oeuvre, Picasso’s renditions, treasured for their expressive characteristics. The theme is most remembered as Picasso’s primary subject matter during his Rose Period, 1904-1906. During this period the artist’s obsession with these fascinating entertainers began to take shape as the artist painted introspective portraits of saltimbanques, clowns, harlequins, and acrobats. Though this work was created over a decade after his famous Rose Period, he returns to one of his favorite themes in this cheerful image. The smiling carnival clown dons a red cap adorned with yellow bells, and a festive patterned blouse, striped in red, yellow, and green, with white ruffled cuffs and an even more grandiose white ruff. Surrounded by a whimsical dotted background in the same vibrant colors of his garments, this stunning Picasso lithograph showcases that artist’s playful sensibility.

Created in 1958 after the original gouache of the same title, this color lithograph was printed by Mourlot, Paris, and published by Yamet Arts, Inc. Hand-signed by Pablo Picasso (Malaga, 1881 - Mougins, 1973) in pencil in the lower right, this work is numbered from the edition of 300 in the lower left. Additionally signed in the plate with the date ’26.1.58’ in the lower center of the work.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

Pablo Picasso Carnival (Carnival), 1958 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the sale of the work).

1. Wofsy, Alan. Picasso’s Paintings, Watercolors, Drawings and Scultpure:The Fifties II 1956-1959. San Francisco: Alan Wofsy Fine Arts, 2000. The original gouache that this work is based on is listed and illustrated as catalogue no. 58-053.
2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this artwork.

About the Framing:

Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, Pablo Picasso Carnival (Carnival), 1958 is presented in a complementary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.