Pablo Picasso painted Acrobate et Jeune Arlequin (Acrobat and Young Harlequin), oil on canvas, measuring 191.1cm x 108.6 cm in 1905. The canvas is from his Rose Period which represents more lively themes of clowns, harlequins, carnival performers, who are depicted in jovial vibrant hues of red, pink, orange and earth tones. The Rose Period (1904-06) is considered as French influenced and it represents an important epoch in his life and work and it also had a major impact on the development of modern art and also marking the beginning of his stylistic experiments with primitivism which is influenced by pre-Roman Iberian sculpture, Oceanic and African art.

This painting is pretty conventional in style as its line is thin which shows the artist’s unique contribution to expressionism. Acrobate et Jeune Arlequin is referred in relation to his “Harlequin” period when Picasso is stated to have used circus artists as his source of inspiration. It depicts the theme of the artists’ value in society where they were mocked and seen as social outcasts. It is displayed at The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, US.— E.J.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, March 13th, 2016