Pablo Picasso Spanish 1881-1973 Gouache on paper

Updated September 23, 2026

Title: Harlequin with Ornamental Headdress Technique: Gouache on paper Measures: 17 x 13 inches Year: Undated Condition: Good overall condition. The sheet presents vivid coloration with layered applications of gouache, pronounced linear contours, and visible gestural brushwork throughout. Minor handling wear, gentle waviness, surface irregularities, and light age-related toning consistent with the medium may be present. The paper appears stable and display-ready, retaining its saturated palette and strong visual impact. Presented in a distressed white-tone frame showing scattered surface wear and age-related marks. Provenance: From a private American collection; reportedly acquired in New York from a collector of Cubist and School of Paris art in the 1950s. This history was communicated by the previous owner; supporting documentation is unavailable. Visual Description: This vertically oriented portrait depicts a fantastical harlequin-like figure with an elaborate geometric headdress and dramatically stylized facial features. The sitter’s frontal face is constructed through asymmetrical planes, curving contours, and bands of blue, green, cream, pink, orange, black, and white. Large blue eyes confront the viewer directly, while the nose, mouth, cheeks, and chin are reorganized into overlapping and spiraling forms that disrupt conventional anatomical structure. A cluster of circular, ring-like marks descends along the left side of the face, creating a rhythmic ornamental passage that contrasts with the broader geometric construction of the head. Above, the elaborate headdress combines horn-like projections, striped conical forms, loops, and repeated oval motifs. The lower register is defined by a pronounced undulating collar above a sequence of elongated brown, yellow, and magenta forms. Broad gestural passages of green, red, yellow, and blue animate the background. The fractured facial structure, simultaneous suggestion of multiple viewpoints, expressive distortion, bold contouring, theatrical subject matter, and vivid chromatic contrasts evoke the visual language of Cubism and the experimental figurative vocabulary of 20th-century European modernism. This composition reflects stylistic elements commonly associated with major figures in modern and contemporary art. For additional information regarding certification, provenance, or any inquiries about this piece or other items, please don't hesitate to contact us through the HiBid platform. A secondary market exists for uncatalogued artworks like this one, which often results in lower estimated and sale prices compared to catalogued artist works. If you have any specific questions or require further assistance in understanding the value, context, or details of this artwork, we are here to help and provide any additional information you may need.

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