Harlequin, Columbine and Pierrot
1918
Mark Gertler's 1918 masterpiece throws the traditional Commedia dell'arte characters into a swirling, emotional vortex of dark greens and fiery oranges. The central figure, Columbine, stands with hands clasped over her face in a pose of anguish, flanked by the looming, shadowy figures of Harlequin and Pierrot. Painted during the grim final year of World War I, this isn't a cheerful theatrical scene but a reflection of the era's deep anxiety. It's a far cry from the playful pantomimes these characters usually inhabit, showing how modernism turned even comedy into something haunting.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
- Material
- Canvas
Location: Tate, London