Harlequin with guitar (1916) by Pablo Picasso

Harlequin with guitar - Pablo Picasso - 1916

Artwork Information

TitleHarlequin with guitar
ArtistPablo Picasso
Date1916
Mediumwatercolor,paper
Dimensions33.5 x 25 cm
Art MovementImpressionism

About Harlequin with guitar

The artwork titled “Harlequin with Guitar” is a creation by the eminent artist Pablo Picasso, dated back to 1916. This piece engages the medium of watercolor on paper, and it is classified within the genre painting category. Measuring 33.5 by 25 centimeters, it reflects the characteristics of the Impressionist movement, which is known for its approach to capturing light and its immediate effect.

The artwork represents an abstracted figure, identifiable as a harlequin based on the characteristic attire and the guitar that is held, which are common motifs in the artistic explorations of Picasso. The use of watercolor allows for soft, fluid transitions of color, yet Picasso’s rendition ensures that the figure retains a sense of volume and presence. There is a playfulness to the figure’s posture and presentation, which is accentuated by the pastel color palette, dominated by blues, greens, and touches of reddish hues. Despite the seemingly spontaneous application of the watercolors, there is an undeniable sense of intention in the way these colors and forms come together to suggest the figure amidst an abstracted background.

The haze of color around the figure likely signifies the interplay of light and shadow, which aligns with the Impressionist focus on the rendering of illumination in a given moment. The softness and translucency of the watercolor contribute to the overall ephemeral and dynamic quality of the work, as is characteristic of the genre. Overall, the piece is illustrative of Picasso’s versatility and his forays into different artistic movements throughout his prolific career.

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