Lucebert - Portrait. Rare early original COBRA work, 1948

Rare original work by Lucebert from 1948, pivotal year of the COBRA movement, of which he was a founding member.

This small but powerful composition depicts a highly expressive, mask-like head, executed in bold black ink lines with spontaneous, almost primitive energy. The stylised facial construction and linear “radiating” forms are fully consistent with Lucebert’s earliest visual language.

A particularly striking element is the thick yellow paint application within the face, adding texture and relief—an unusual and highly tactile feature for a work on paper, enhancing its uniqueness.

The figure is set within a soft watercolour wash and framed by a dark ink border, creating a contained and balanced composition typical of the artist’s early experimental period.
Signed and dated “Lucebert ’48” (lower right).

Works from 1948 represent Lucebert’s earliest and most important period, directly linked to the birth of COBRA. Authentic, signed works from this phase—especially intimate works on paper—are increasingly scarce on the market and sought after by collectors of post-war European avant-garde art.

Condition: Good overall; slight age toning and light wear consistent with age; original frame.
Provenance: Private collection
Medium: Ink and watercolour on paper (with textured paint application)
Signature: Signed and dated “’48” lower right