In 1906 when Pablo Picasso painted La Mort d’Arlequin, or Death of a Harlequin in English, he raised many questions and left the world pondering his thought process as well as his psychological being. On the surface the painting is clearly a Harlequin, as the title lends to the viewer, with two other bodies hovering over, the colors are fading and blurred, and the message is vague. Delving deep into the depths of the artwork only reveals more about the mind of Picasso. The color choices, the subject choices, and the vagueness of meaning all lend hand to the mastermind brain behind the pencil. Plunging into what this piece can suggest about Picasso’s psychological being only aids in the understanding of his life, thoughts, and the connections to his other works.
The artist, who identified as atheist, was actually raised in the Catholic Church. It has been seen and studied though history that this almost ‘pinball like’ bouncing between ideals can be troubling to the mind. As someone who was forced into an education based in something he did not believe it is clear that morals and thoughts of death could be skewed. Let’s look at the drawing, specifically starting with the 2 figures at the top.The one possibly male figure floats above the death bed of the Jester. It is seen that he has a head and is wearing some form of makeup that is fading and clothes that also disappear into nothing.The second seemingly male appears as just a head. It is also assumed he is wearing fading makeup as well. It could be possible that these two figures are already dead, suggested by the white cloud around them, the fact that they do not have lower bodies and are floating. The body laying down is perceived to be dead as well. His hands lay peacefully on his chest and the colors in his costume are vanishing. There is a running of blue under the body of the Jester. He is comfortable and relaxed.
Drawing a piece of this nature can lead a great deal into the psychological order of the pencil holders thoughts. This work suggest that the creator has questions about death. If the viewer thinks of the laying harlequin as Picasso and the other figures as friends or his already dead sister, it can be seen as troubling. With the Catholic background but atheistic views, the thoughts of Heaven and Hell could be troubling. Perceiving close friends in Heaven watching over the death and Picasso awaiting his future shows his thoughts about the afterlife.The blue colors are fading away from his body and down into the ground. This may show his doubts of reaching Heaven and the possibility of Hell. He is peaceful because he knows he cannot do anything to control it, he will just wait for his body to be absorbed by the ground, or lifted into the heavens.He will not know this due to that fact that he was alive when this was created.
The psychological being of Pablo Picasso is suggested by his work. He is in a troubling state psychologically and has many questions of death. He is unsure if he will ascend into Heaven or descend into Hell. His emotions and thoughts are bleeding into the ground, but there are loved ones in the sky waiting for him. A Harlequin lives its whole life to please and entertain others. It is possible that this is a reflection of Picasso and his attempt to entertain and please ‘fans’ with art. This perhaps lends purpose to the life of the subject. But when the entertaining is over, he can only lay on the bed, and seem to have a smile. Just waiting for the next step. Psychologically he is confused, possibly afraid of death.
Art and literature can reveal a large sum of information about the creator. Knowing very little about Picasso, one can draw connections and assumptions from his work. It takes a genius to create this amazing drawing but what creates that genius? Suggestions can come directly from reading the authors work or viewing the artist creations. A psychological state of being can be strained from Picasso’s work. It can be suggested that his state is one of confusion. A state that is embodied by a question of death. A state that is of waiting. A state of watching the colors fade and vanish into the Earth but his body stays still. A state of remembering those that are watching down on him, influencing him every day. Pablo Picasso’s mind can be read through his art.
