Pierrot and Red Harlequin, Standing from the series Dix Pochoirs

Pierrot and Red Harlequin, Standing from the series Dix Pochoirs by Pablo Picasso is a striking example of the artist’s engagement with classical theatrical motifs rendered through the precise methodology of printmaking, produced and published in 1921. This work utilizes the pochoir technique, a sophisticated method of stencil printing that enables the application of dense, flat fields of color, preserving the intensity and clarity of the original composition. The piece is derived from the portfolio Dix Pochoirs (Ten Pochoirs), which translated a selection of Picasso’s recent figurative drawings into highly stylized editions.

The figures of Pierrot and the Harlequin are central to this work, continuing the Spanish artist’s long fascination with the characters of the Italian Commedia dell'arte. In this composition, the two standing figures are rendered with strong, definitive outlines and monumental forms characteristic of Picasso’s Neoclassical phase following World War I. Harlequin, traditionally identified by his checkered pattern, is presented here primarily in bright red and black, suggesting energy and restlessness. He contrasts sharply with the pale, sorrowful figure of Pierrot, whose white costume and relaxed posture evoke contemplation.

The technique employed in this print emphasizes structure over abstraction, focusing on the solidity and presence of the subjects. This departure from Cubism, while temporary, shows Picasso’s adaptability and his role in the broader European "return to order" movement of the early 1920s, prioritizing figuration and clarity. Published in 1921, the piece demonstrates how even established master painters utilized fine art prints to disseminate their evolving stylistic concerns. This important work remains an exemplary representation of Picasso’s Post-Cubist figurative period and is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York.