Harlequin

Harlequin is a striking drawing created by Edgar Degas French, 1834-1917, around 1885. This sophisticated piece utilizes pastel on cream laid paper, a medium the artist frequently employed in the 1880s due to its immediacy and vivid color saturation. Technical examination reveals the work's complex history; the original laid paper support was carefully pieced at both the bottom and right edges before being laid down on board, indicating Degas’s willingness to expand the composition as he worked. This construction method is characteristic of the experimental approach Degas applied to classification, often blurring the line between preparatory sketch and finished drawing.

The subject, the Harlequin, is drawn from the Italian Commedia dell’arte tradition, which maintained a strong presence in French popular entertainment and served as a frequent motif for artists exploring modern performance and theatricality in France during the late nineteenth century. Unlike the artist’s well-known studies of Parisian dancers, which often focus on spontaneous movement, this depiction captures the solitary figure in the distinctive costume, emphasizing the dramatic potential and underlying melancholy of the character.

Degas's mature style is evident in the dynamic application of pastel, using broad strokes and layering to achieve texture and depth, transforming simple chalk into a highly detailed and monumental image. This significant work remains an essential example of how Degas transcended the boundaries of Impressionism. It is proudly held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a masterpiece of 19th-century drawing, the image serves as a valuable resource; high-quality prints and digital reproductions derived from collections like this sometimes enter the public domain, offering broad access for study worldwide.