203. Harlequin with Guitar [1938]

When he will return to his country, after his studies abroad, Iser will dedicate a long period of time to studying the traditions and customs of the Turkish minority on the Black Sea coast. From the same pictorial theme will later emerge the series of odalisques, a series that will consecrate him as the most renowned creator of oriental influence works. His activity is complex, adopting several styles within his works, such as the Spanish period referring to the 1930s when the painter traveled to Spain and was heavily influenced by landscapes and local life, adopting a brighter color palette, an exotic shade and a monumentality of the compositions in his works, or the period of Tatar and Tatar women's portraits from the Dobrogea and Balchik area which he made, or of harlequins and dancers. Iser will also tackle themes centered on social and political satire or Dobrogean landscapes, but he will also show a particular interest and curiosity for the theme of the harlequins. In these works, he will represent them in various moments, alone or accompanied by dancers (Colombina) or musical instruments (guitar) as is the case here. As for this work, the scene focuses on catching a harlequin with a guitar. This opera, was made in 1938 and is part of the 1930s when he was abroad, in Paris and Spain where he will begin to add to his thematic repertoire of native inspiration and the theme of theater, dance, circus and show. The subject illustrates his curiosity for circus life and, moreover, the way he identifies with them. The subject is also an artist's excuse to talk about himself. The harlequin is represented frontally, in a circus costume in shades of red, green and blue. In his left hand he holds a guitar that is resting on a three-legged pedestal. The character is caught in a contemplative moment, away from the show and the public's eyes and can manifest and be how he wants without being seen. Beyond the comic costume he is wearing we discover in the harlequin surprised by Iser a profound emotional tension. In this way, the harlequin is no longer just a show character, a happy character, becomes a melancholic and vulnerable presence and allows us to observe how he really is, without a mask, when he is not on stage or watched by others.

References

MIHALACHE, Marin, "Iser," Meridiane Publishing House, Bucharest, 1982. "Iosif Iser (retrospective exhibition)," Romania's Art Museum Publishing House, Bucharest, 1983.

Dimensions

width 46 cm, height 61.5 cm

Description

guașă vernisată pe hârtie, signed and dated bottom right, in brown, "ISER, 1938"

Dating

1938

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