Pablo Picasso TÊTE AU MASQUE (Head with Mask) is a striking and elegant example of Picasso’s celebrated ceramics produced at the renowned Madoura Pottery in Vallauris.

In this minimalist yet deeply expressive composition, Picasso distills the human face into a powerful arrangement of sculptural relief and graphic contrast, where a bold black mask-like form frames wide, watchful eyes and a sharply modeled triangular nose. The work reflects Picasso’s enduring fascination with the duality of identity—mask and face, concealment and revelation—an idea rooted in his engagement with African art and classical theater. Executed with remarkable economy of line and form, the piece transforms a simple ceramic plate into a commanding modern portrait, embodying the inventive spirit of Picasso’s Vallauris period. Highly collectible and visually iconic, TÊTE AU MASQUE exemplifies the artist’s genius for turning everyday objects into enduring works of modern art.

Picasso’s ceramic works from Vallauris have become an essential chapter in the artist’s vast oeuvre and are now widely recognized by major museums and scholars as a significant extension of his sculptural and painterly practice. Produced beginning in 1947 at the Madoura studio, these works allowed Picasso to experiment freely with form, surface, and relief, bridging the worlds of sculpture, painting, and craft. Today, Picasso ceramics are held in the permanent collections of many of the world’s leading institutions, including the Musée National Picasso-Paris, The Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Tate Modern, among many others. Their presence in these prestigious collections underscores the historical importance and enduring desirability of Picasso’s ceramic creations, which continue to captivate collectors and institutions alike.

Created in 1956, this Terre de faïence plate is from the edition of 200. This work is stamped with the 'MADOURA PLEIN FEU' and 'EMPREINTE ORIGINALE DE PICASSO' pottery stamps on the reverse.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

Pablo Picasso TÊTE AU MASQUE (Head with Mask), 1956, A. R. 362 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices accompanying the final sale of the work):

1. Ramié, Alain. Picasso Catalogue of the edited ceramic works 1947-1971. Madoura: Galerie Madoura, 1988. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 362.
2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.

Looking to Sell Pablo Picasso Tête au masque (Head with Mask), 1956?

If you are looking to sell Pablo Picasso Tête au masque (Head with Mask), 1956, Masterworks Fine Art is interested in acquiring important Picasso ceramics. This earthenware plate features a stylized face with a bold black mask, raised eyes and a sculpted nose against a light glazed surface.

The value of your Picasso Head with Mask ceramic can depend on condition, provenance, edition information, Madoura pottery stamps, documentation and current collector demand. An evaluation should consider its edition of 200, the markings on the reverse, and any chips, cracks, glaze wear, repairs or restoration.

To request a Picasso ceramic valuation, send photographs of the front, reverse and rim, including any edition markings and the “MADOURA PLEIN FEU” and “EMPREINTE ORIGINALE DE PICASSO” pottery stamps. Include any purchase records, certificates or other provenance documentation. Our team can assess your plate, review comparable market activity and determine whether it may qualify for a confidential direct purchase offer.

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