The Cleveland Museum of Art (spacer)
Special Exhibitions 		(spacer) (separator) (spacer) (spacer)
Picasso: The Artist's Studio 		(spacer)
(spacer)
Picasso: The Artist's Studio

Understanding Picasso Through Conservation (UPTC)

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Harlequin with Violin (Si Tu Veux), 1918


X-radiograph of <I>Harlequin with Violin</I> (Si Tu Veux), 1918<BR>© Cleveland Museum of Art
X-radiograph of Harlequin with Violin (Si Tu Veux), 1918
© Cleveland Museum of Art

X-radiograph of Harlequin with Violin, 1918

The irregular surface of Harlequin with Violin shows considerable evidence of reworking. X-radiographs reveal that Harlequin was originally depicted in profile, rather than facing the viewer (A, outlined in orange).

In the early stages of the painting, Harlequin turned his head to reveal a slightly comical smile beneath a dark, rectangular mask
(B, outlined in yellow). His triangular hat was originally tilted at a slight angle, indicating recession in space (C, outlined in red).

Picasso later replaced these features with strictly frontal, flattened forms, thereby altering the mood from comic gaiety to something more mysterious and confrontational.

X-radiographs also reveal that the arm holding the sheet of music once had a supple, curving outline (D, outlined in blue), which was later replaced by more severe, rectangular planes.


Pablo Picasso, <I>Harlequin with Violin</I> (Si Tu Veux), 1918<BR>Oil on canvas, 142 x 100.3 cm. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna, Jr., Fund©2001 Estate of Pablo Picasso/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Pablo Picasso, Harlequin with Violin (Si Tu Veux), 1918
Oil on canvas, 142 x 100.3 cm. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna, Jr., Fund ©2001 Estate of Pablo Picasso/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Page 1 of 2 | On the next page: Pierrot and Harlequin, 1918