Harlequin with Violin

1918

Pablo Picasso

(Spanish, 1881–1973)

Spain, 20th century

oil on canvas

Framed: 171 x 132 x 7.5 cm (67 5/16 x 51 15/16 x 2 15/16 in.); Unframed: 142.2 x 100.3 cm (56 x 39 1/2 in.)

Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 1975.2

Location: not on view

This artwork is known to be under copyright.

Did You Know?

Picasso associated himself with the character Harlequin, a jokester from the popular commedia dell'arte, a happy-go-lucky and nimble sprite, juggler, and conjurer in whom Picasso recognized his own artistic abilities.

Description

The diamond-patterned costume and triangular hat identify the musician in this painting as one of Picasso’s alter egos, Harlequin, a jokester from the popular commedia dell’arte (a theatrical form in which a cast of colorful stock characters spoke in improvised dialogue that became popular in northern Italy in the 1500s and rapidly gained popularity throughout Europe). The phrase Si tu veux on the sheet of music may refer to a contemporary popular song that began, “If you wish, Marguerite, make me happy by giving me your heart.” The inclusion of this lyric may refer to Picasso’s marriage to Russian ballerina Olga Khokhlova the year this painting was made.