Koppel onder een boom met Pierrot aan hun voeten en Harlequin verstopt achter de boom c. 1715s - 1725s

This print by Quentin Pierre Chedel, now at the Rijksmuseum, presents a scene rich in theatrical symbolism. Pierrot, the melancholic clown, sits with a guitar at the feet of a couple, while Harlequin, the crafty trickster, hides behind a tree. These characters, born from the Italian Commedia dell'arte, carry echoes of ancient archetypes. Pierrot's sorrow and Harlequin's cunning, are familiar from classical plays to modern narratives. Consider Harlequin’s costume: the patchwork suit, a symbol of resourcefulness, appears in various forms, even in abstract art, morphing to represent adaptability and survival. The theme of jealousy, explicitly noted in the title, taps into primal human emotions. Just as Renaissance paintings used gestures to convey complex narratives, here the characters' postures speak volumes. The hidden Harlequin embodies a collective fear of betrayal, an emotion that transcends time. These symbols serve as a mirror, reflecting our own anxieties and desires, engaging viewers on a deeply personal level. Their cyclical return highlights the enduring relevance of human dramas.