Saltimbanque with Arms Crossed

Pablo Picasso, 1923

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About This Work

This monumental portrait depicts a harlequin — a figure that Picasso used as a self-portrait throughout his career — standing with arms crossed in a pose of quiet self-possession. The figure's diamond-patterned costume is rendered with the sculptural solidity of the Neoclassical period, and the face, though stylized, has a psychological depth and presence that makes the work feel like a genuine portrait.

The harlequin was Picasso's most persistent alter-ego, appearing in his work from the Rose Period through the late career. In the Neoclassical period, the figure takes on a new monumental gravity, reflecting Picasso's own growing stature and self-confidence as the dominant figure of the European avant-garde.

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