Masquarade #1, Large Modern Portrait by Leal

In this lithograph, Leal stages a decisive confrontation between dual identities. Two stylized faces, enclosed within a dark circular frame, emerge as both mask and persona. One, adorned with a vivid, crown-like headdress of gold, magenta, and ochre, gazes outward with bold red lips and an air of theatrical authority. The second, pallid and spectral, floats alongside—an ambiguous double that evokes concealment, shadow, or inner self.
The flat application of color and precise outlines, combined with the circular format, heighten the graphic clarity of the piece. The juxtaposition of vibrancy and pallor, presence and absence, transforms the lithograph into a meditation on duality, performance, and transformation.

About the Artist
Leal is an artist whose work reflects the bold visual sensibilities of the late 20th century, merging the elegance of Art Deco revival with the immediacy of Pop and fashion illustration. Known for compositions that dramatize the human face, Leal engages themes of identity, theatricality, and the tension between surface and interiority. By drawing on the mask as both protective guise and expressive symbol, Leal situates portraiture within a universal dialogue on self-representation.

Context and Legacy
Lithographs such as this one embody the fusion of fine art and graphic design that shaped much of postwar visual culture. With its crisp execution, bold palette, and psychological undertones, the work resonates with collectors interested in modern portraiture, as well as those drawn to the interplay of theatrical glamour and introspection.

Collector’s Note
This lithograph by Leal exemplifies a rare balance of elegance and edge. Its striking use of color and symbolic duality make it a compelling acquisition for collectors of late modern prints, graphic portraiture, and works exploring the theme of identity.

REFERENCE NUMBER: LU654316929462
PERIOD: Late 20th Century
CONDITION: Good
MEASUREMENTS: Height: 42.5" Width: 36" Depth: 1"
COUNT: 1
MATERIAL: Lithograph
CREATOR: Steve Leal