Harlequins 

Curator: What strikes me most is the melancholic feeling emanating from this vibrant painting; there's a sense of both festivity and profound loneliness coexisting. Editor: I agree. Corneliu Michailescu's piece, aptly named "Harlequins," offers us this complex interplay. Notice how the harlequin, a traditional figure of mirth, is depicted with a rather vacant stare. His image is deeply ingrained in popular culture, often seen as tricksters, fools, or comic relief. But what if that mask slips? Curator: Indeed. And this tension resonates throughout. The stark white face, juxtaposed against the bright but slightly chaotic composition, speaks volumes. Those unsettling spots around the left eye... like silent tears in crimson. And what’s going on inside his head?! Editor: Oh, yes! Is that confetti? Or some sort of thought-grenade just went off. But his flamboyant collar, the swirl of activity around him... there is a play between interiority and performance, this private melancholy masked with theatricality. It’s heartbreaking and a little cheeky, like the blues. Curator: Exactly. We see other harlequins cavorting in the background as our solitary one gazes forlornly, directly confronting the viewer. It forces us to consider the persona we present, and how often it belies our inner turmoil. This theme is universal. Editor: Which also makes it timeless. I imagine, throughout history, countless people putting on a happy face, entertaining even, while wrestling with inner turmoil. Michailescu's captured that beautifully, disturbingly...brilliantly. I mean, even the music from the partial view of the guitar is melancholic somehow! Curator: Absolutely, a masterful observation about the duality of human experience. A piece to linger with, to consider the weight we carry beneath our own painted faces. Editor: "Harlequins," a perfect metaphor indeed! Next time I don a smile, I might remember this Harlequin. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a sudden urge to put on some sad, soulful music.