Seated Harlequin c. 1920

oil-on-canvas

pop art-esque

abstract painting

pop art

mural art

oil painting

acrylic on canvas

street graffiti

spray can art

pop art-influence

painting art

oil-on-canvas

"Seated Harlequin" by Juan Gris (1887-1927) is a prime example of Cubist art. Created around 1920, the painting depicts a figure in a harlequin costume, seated in a chair, with their body fragmented and reassembled in a geometric pattern. The composition is characterized by flat planes, bold colors, and an emphasis on abstract forms, characteristic of the Cubist movement. Gris's work is known for its intricate geometric structures and the incorporation of everyday objects, giving a unique visual experience to the viewers. The painting is currently housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

⋮

Harlequin is a character in the Commedia dell’arte, a form of Italian theater in which masked actors perform broad, humorous sketches. Most figures in commedia are based on social stereotypes of 1500s Italy. Harlequin is a mischievous servant dressed in a diamond-patterned costume who vies against the clown character Pierrot for the love of Colombina, a servant girl. Gris and other modern artists—including Picasso—commonly used Harlequin and other Commedia dell’arte figures as subject matter. The layered meanings of Harlequin fit well with the Cubist configuration of the figure from different viewpoints, where no one fixed perspective is shown. Conservation of this picture was made possible by a generous contribution from Al and Dena Naylor through the Art Champions program.