The artwork entitled “Harlequin’s death” is a creation of the eminent artist Pablo Picasso, completed in the year 1906. This piece is rendered in gouache on cardboard, embodying elements of the Expressionism and Symbolism movements. It measures 65 by 95 centimeters and is recognized as a genre painting, a category defined by scenes of everyday life.
The artwork features a figure lying down, presumably the Harlequin, a character traditionally associated with the Italian commedia dell’arte. The palette is subdued, with earthy tones dominating. Beside the Harlequin are two figures, one standing upright and the other with a somewhat bowed head, creating an atmosphere of solemnity. Gently washed colors and vague outlines suggest a dreamlike or transient quality, imbuing the scene with a sense of impermanence and the ethereal. The Harlequin himself is depicted in a state of repose or death, clad in his characteristic checkered costume, albeit here rendered with minimal detailing. The standing figure gazes outward, beyond the tableau, evoking contemplation or a silent dialogue with an unseen presence. The poignant composition is indicative of the themes of life, death, and the human psyche that recurrently find expression in the works of Picasso.
