Historical Description: Boldly composed with rich dark tones and opaque shapes, this piece evokes a sense of ambiguity and mystery. Rather than creating the facial features of the jester with an outlined form, Picasso creates the form from within. Shapes overlap and intersect to create various textures, highlights, and shadows of the face. Using dark brown and white as the highlights to an otherwise black scene, we are drawn in to the image through the use of contrasting tones. With a crooked smile, a crowned jester gazes out at us, as if preparing a special performance for our viewing pleasure. Fun-loving and comical, Tête de Bouffon, Carnaval (Jester's Head, Carnival) is instilled with a distinct sense of joy and playfulness.

Created in 1965, this original color linocut was printed and published by Arnéra, Vallauris. Hand signed by Pablo Picasso (Malaga, 1881 - Mougins, 1973) in pencil in the lower right margin, this work is numbered from the edition of 160 in pencil in the lower left margin.