Le Harlequin 1694 - 1725

This print of ‘Le Harlequin’ was etched by an anonymous artist, and is currently held in the Rijksmuseum. The method of etching itself has a history – emerging in the early 16th century as a way of producing detailed images on paper. In terms of its making, lines were bitten into a metal plate with acid, then inked and printed. This intaglio technique allowed for a relatively high degree of detail. Think of the harlequin's costume, carefully rendered with a repeating diamond pattern. The image has a stage-like quality, and this gets at the heart of the harlequin figure. Emerging in the Commedia dell'arte, Harlequin was an acrobatic servant, always ready with a trick or joke. But more than that, he represented the working class, and their resilience in the face of hardship. Here, the material of printmaking combines with the figure of Harlequin to give us a glimpse into a world of labor, performance, and satire. It reminds us that even in art, the everyday struggles of life are never far from view.