Harlequin with violin 1918

Picasso made this painting of a Harlequin with a violin using oil paint, probably in his studio, whenever that might have been. The grey, brown, and white tones create a kind of muted atmosphere, against which the diamonds really sing! They're not just decorative, they're part of the structure, the same way a painter uses color to build form. Look at the harlequin’s head, chopped into planes and angles, yet somehow still expressive. And notice the little swirl where the harlequin’s hand should be holding the violin. It's almost cartoonish, but it’s also incredibly deft, suggesting movement and energy with a single, elegant gesture. It reminds me a little of Leger's work, this use of simplified forms, but Picasso brings such an emotional intensity. For me, art's always a dialogue, each artist riffing off the others, and it's never quite finished.