Seated Harlequin 1923

Juan Gris painted this 'Seated Harlequin' in 1923 with oil on canvas, and it's a trip. Gris is playing with a limited palette, mostly purples, yellows, and grays, but it’s how he puts them together that makes it sing. It's like he's not just depicting a harlequin, but also building him, piece by piece. I'm drawn to the way the colors sit on the canvas, a little flat, a little chalky, but full of light. There is a real feeling of process to this painting, the way the forms are built up with layers and facets. The painting feels very solid, almost sculptural. Look at how the light catches on the harlequin's costume, and how the grays and purples melt into each other. I love the way he's created a space that feels both intimate and slightly unreal. Gris reminds me a lot of Cezanne. Both artists are concerned with the fundamentals of seeing and depicting, and neither are afraid to explore ambiguity. It’s this constant pushing and pulling that makes art so alive, right?