1918 Picasso’s Harlequin with Violin (“Si tu veux”)

1918 Picasso’s Harlequin with Violin (“Si tu veux”)

Introduction

Harlequin, with the violin, was painted in the spring of 1918 by Picasso. The painting features a large and imposing figure carrying a violin and a sheet of music known as “sit u veux”. Picasso applied various art styles and techniques, but the most outstanding if the synthetic Cubism that is evident through lively colors and large geometric shapes. Such techniques were used to show recognizable themes and meanings in the painting. In the artwork, violin and sheet music shows some ideas of the meaning of the painting. Most interpreters argue that the sheet of music and violin indicates a marriage proposal to a Russian lady, Olga Koklova, proposed to be Picasso’s wife[1]. The painting is one of the mysterious images in the era of Cubism with the figure of Harlequin. It is recognized to have a diamond-patterned costume with a dark triangular hat. In the painting, Picasso identifies himself with a stock figure that originated from Commedia dell’art, and this creates a sense of personification and depiction of bohemian culture[2].A critical observation of Picasso’s artworks such as Picasso, Family of Saltibanques, 1905, Picasso, Harlequin, Late 1915, among others, proves that 1918 Picasso’s Harlequin with Violin is associated with cubism. Perhaps musical subject matter, painting techniques, and other related arts show him as Herlequin and a Germain, which evidence that the artwork is relevant to cubism. This paper, therefore, analysis Picasso’s Harlequin with Violin regarding the subject matter and techniques to show that it is associated with Cubism.

Understanding whether the painting is associated with Cubism requires a brief overview of Cubism. By definition, it is a movement in art that started in France during 1907. The movement is related to the emergence of geometric planes and shaped.  It is also referred to as an avant-garde art movement that changed European artwork in terms of painting, music, literature, sculpture, and architecture. The movement is considered to be one of the most influential in the 20th century in the history of Europe. Works that are considered to belong to cubism must possess unique features in modernist art. For example, the cubism arts do not involve traditional techniques of modeling instead use foreshortening and a two-dimensional picture plane. It applies the geometric forms and multiple contrasting vantage points.  As practiced by Picasso and Braque, the cubist works are monochromatic with bright, harmonious colors. Several of these aspects of cubism arts can be seen in Harlequin with Violin painting. Picasso uses synthetic cubism integrated with papier colle’. Picasso’s artwork has several observable subjects and techniques that show that it is related to cubism. A critical analysis of other associated artworks indicates that the Harlequin with Violin is connected to cubism.

The musical subject in Harlequin with Violin

In most cases, Picasso had portrayed himself as Harlequin, and in the painting, the musician wears a mask and white hat linked to melancholy Pierrot featuring in Commedia. This indicates some aspects of personification and creates a sense of synthetic Cubism. In support of marriage view interpretation, the phrase “sit u veux” provides a clue as to a loving joke intended for the Russian ballet dancer Olga. It is noted that in 1918, Picasso married Olga, and therefore it is interpreted that the piece of music in the title was a marriage proposal. The only challenge with the marriage view is that even with a close examination, the painting reveals no one but two figures. Another aspect of Harlequin’s companion in the Commedia dell’ art linked to the moon ad wears a white hat, mask, and makeup[3]. Important to note is that Picasso did not show himself as Pierrot but linked the character to one of his friends who was a poet known as Guillaume Apollinaire. It is noted that the painter combines the two characters for reasons that can only be explained by events in his personal life. Similar musical themes and cubism techniques can be observed in Picasso’s artworks; the family of Saltibanques and Picasso, Harlequin, Late 1915.

[4]

Picasso used fresco-like colors to develop a haunting mood of the deserted area. Patterns are used to create a continuous deserted background with no connection making it difficult to know where the family is located. The timing of this painting suggests that it related to cubism. Further, the primary subject of Picasso’s Harlequin with the violin originated from the family of Saltibanques painting. It is the period of blue-pink when the painting existed focusing major themes in the modern artworks. The painting has a group of saltimbanques organized in a space with a pale tan. The sky is blue and cloudy. The shades of rose indicate a rosy period. The empty background suggests possible innovation in the future as the figure has some aspects of motionless. The family is homeless, and there are anywhere and going nowhere.

The painting represents synthetic aspects of cubism as Picasso artwork. As indicated, the picture represents techniques that were used in modern arts during the cubism movements in the 20th century. The family of Saltibanques has some qualities and subjects that relate to cubism. An analysis of the artwork shows some critical connection with Picasso’s Harlequin with Violin. First, the Picasso cast around an essential issue as the people in the painting have no idea of their location. In art, the group depicts the family in their different worlds and places. Observation shows that there is no connection between the family and the individuals in the picture. The composition has a lot of figures, and this makes it an example of modern art. The presence of figures creates a situation whereby no one looks at each other, which is the opposite of what a family should be doing when together. The different interpretation shows some political aspect focusing on the oppression of the poor and the general state of the society.

Another example that shows cubism in Picasso’s work is Picasso, Harlequin, and Late 1915. Mixtures of different colors are used as there is grey and black integrated in a way to create a specific pattern in the painting. This painting it can be noted that it has a similar topic to Picasso’s Harlequin with Violin. This means that the primary theme and even techniques are the same. Further, they were created almost identical time to present ideas during the cubism period. It has accentuated that is tall and narrow, a technique recognized in modern art. It can be related to the blue period because it seems manlancholy and rehabilitating. The representation of manlancholy indicates some aspects of blue as it was also constructed with an empty yellow canvas. A closer look reveals the presence of texture paint. The painting has several interpretations. One of such is that Picasso wanted to set up a new era of art and introduce the next class of arts during the cubism movement. This art also provides highlights of Picasso’s life as it goes back to his early life. By the fact that the painting goes back to blue, it means that it goes back to Harlequin, and this is proof of its relation to Picasso’s Harlequin with Violin. In this way, it can be said to have existed during modern art and hence belongs to the cubism period.

Techniques

Several techniques associated with cubism movements can be observed in the Harlequin with Violin painting. For example, as cubism is noted for visual arts, Picasso uses analytical cubism and papier colle’ techniques in the painting. It applies larger and simple shapes created from papiers. The flatter shapes are carried over the painting by the artist using both synthetic cubism and analytic cubism. It is noted that Harlequin with Violin is a superior work of a cubism work that undergo states of fullness and evacuation. By use of analytical cubism, the artist analysis the form of objects in the world of visual experience and the space surrounding them and also uses cubist painting, traditional theory to manipulate the purely formal elements such as shapes, textures, colors, and lines. Synthetic cubism helped the painter to nature the forms and design shapes in a geometrical manner that is easy to understand[5]. A closer observation of the painting shows that there are reworked and overpainted areas. This is an indication that this painting was essential to Picasso during the cubism movement. Application of various materials that are stick together referred to as papier colle’ creates a beautiful picture and form of the painting[6].  Harlequin, with Violin’s subject matter, is musically represented by the writing “sit u veux,” the violin and the guitar in the picture. The song begins with writings associated with cubism, and this suggests that the Picasso’s Harlequin with Violin is associated with cubism. Analysis of Picasso, Portrait of a girl, 1914, and Picasso, Violin 1912 shows some aspects of cubism. Picasso, Portrait of a girl, 1914, has geometrical patterns similar to that of Harlequin with the violin. It has a mixture of green, grey, white, and red colors. These colors create a bright visual aspect making the painting visible. It has a regular pattern repeating unit is rectangular shapes. The portrait of a girl was painted the same period that is during the cubism movement. This implies that it used similar techniques as in Harlequin with the violin. The technique applied in the painting was the collage technique. However, the painting used different colors. As known to Picasso, the art applied engraving, drypoint, and aquatint. In general, the painter used intaglio forms of printing with extended boundaries and traditional means to create a true reflection of cubism art. As seen in most of his graphics, Picasso wanted to develop a new way of achieving modern cubism. Further, Picasso, Violin, 1912 has a regular pattern with repetitive shapes to create emphasis. The combination of different colors enhances its visual content to the viewers. This artwork incorporated several techniques from a collage of violin and techniques. It relates to Picasso’s Harlequin with the violin in that both use the cubism techniques. The violin painting applies two cubism techniques, such as analytical and synthetic. In this painting, other modern techniques are combined with traditions ideas to form a perfect art desired by the painter. Aspects of contemporary sculpture and other related methods can be seen in the painting[7]. Dry brushing as a painting method can be seen to be applied to specific places of the painting depicting a grass texture and a rock feel. The texture was built by blending the paint to create a smooth transition, which results in a different texture media.  The Picasso, Violin 1912, is among the paintings associated with cubism movements and represents a shift from traditional art to modern art.

The Collage in Other Paintings

Picasso, the Scallop Shell, and Picasso, Guitar Sheet Music, and Wine Glass possess similar collage techniques as Picasso Harlequin with Violin. Their subject matter and period of existence reveal some political aspects. Picasso, the Scallop Shell, and Picasso painting are politically related as it points to various governance and their periods of reign. The picture was a response to the Italian futurist’s brilliantly hued canvas that was disputed in Paris. It uses bold color with industrial paint to create the cover of the pamphlet. It has both blue and white red stripes that denotes the French flag[8]. The cubist viewed the painting as groundbreaking to government criticism of Braque and Picasso arts[9]. It also used the synthetic techniques of cubism and the geometrical aspects, as noted in Picasso’s other paintings. Its political relation is interpreted to be its dispute by the Italian futurist. Picasso, Guitar Sheet Music, and Wine Glass also use similar cubism techniques of painting. Picasso assembled his collage from seven pieces of paper, and every piece has a particular element it represents in its composition. The guitar hanging on the wall introduces the musical aspect, and the effects of transparency are remarkable in the painting. Picasso provides a transparent surface of the hollow and overlapping blue bridge of the guitar. The white rectangle shows a cubist glass hence a possible inference that the art is related to the cubism period. Further, the pictorials show collage techniques confirming its relation to cubism and modern art.

Conclusion

From the analysis of Picasso’s painting techniques, subjects, and other artworks, it is evident that 1918 Picasso’s Harlequin with Violin is related to cubism. It applies both synthetic and analytical cubism techniques and collage aspects. Further, it has geometrical composition and other painting elements that are traced back to have emerged during cubism movements. The regular and repetitive shape patterns, engraving, drypoint, and aquatint shows the relation between the painting and cubism.

[1] Blum, Harold P., and Elsa J. Blum. “The Models of Picasso’s Rose Period: the Family of Saltimbanques.” The American Journal of Psychoanalysis 67, no. 2 (2007): 181

[2] Neil, Cox. “Cubism.” London: Phaidon Press Limited 50 (2000): 1905

[3] Blum, Harold P., and Elsa J. Blum. “The Models of Picasso’s Rose Period: the Family of Saltimbanques.” The American Journal of Psychoanalysis 67, no. 2 (2007): 190.

[4] Neil, Cox. “Cubism.” London: Phaidon Press Limited 50 (2000): 1905-1930

[5] Delaney, John K., Jason G. Zeibel, Mathieu Thoury, Roy Littleton, Michael Palmer, Kathryn M. Morales, E. René de La Rie, and Ann Hoenigswald. “Visible and infrared imaging spectroscopy of Picasso’s Harlequin musician: mapping and identification of artist materials in situ.” Applied spectroscopy 64, no. 6 (2010): 584.

[6] Neil, Cox. “Cubism.” London: Phaidon Press Limited 50 (2000): 1905.

[7] Henning, Edward B. “Picasso: Harlequin with Violin (Si Tu Veux).” CMA Bulletin 63 (1976): 7.

[8] Neil, Cox. “Cubism.” London: Phaidon Press Limited 50 (2000): 1905-193.

[9] Henning, Edward B. “Picasso: Harlequin with Violin (Si Tu Veux).” CMA Bulletin 63 (1976): 9.