Pagliacci - 'columbine and Harlequin at Supper' 1910

This piece, called ‘Columbine and Harlequin at Supper’ was made by Byam Shaw. It’s illustrative and literary, and it’s also, maybe, about painting! Shaw had a delicate touch, and I love how he seems to be thinking through a mood, an atmosphere, or a feeling. Here, we see these figures, Columbine and Harlequin, sitting at a table set for supper. They both seem to be in costume; they are performers, yet they are still, in a state of repose. I like that the woman is painted in pink tones, while her counterpart is in blues and blacks. Are they melancholic, or simply tired after a performance? The paint is applied thinly and in layers, allowing the white of the paper to peek through in places, creating a sense of light and airiness, while also highlighting the textured surface. This painterly process, embracing ambiguity and uncertainty, makes room for endless interpretations.