Lot Essay
Unlike the earlier Baigneuse assise (lot 47) which deserves to be seen on all sides Arlequin à l'accordéon exemplifies Lipchitz movement toward a kind of massive frontality that occurred in his work between 1918 and 1920. Although it is dynamic in the round there is a definite façade, one which exudes repressed energy and the power of carefully disjointed planes.
One of the first sculptures made in 1919 was the Harlequin
with Accordion. It reflects my interest in eighteenth
century paintings, particulary that of Watteau.... The Pierrots
and harlequins were part of our general vocabulary, characters
taken from the commedia dell'arte, particularly popular in
the eighteenth century. We may have been attracted to them
originally because of their gay traditional costumes, involving
many different varicolored areas. (J. Lipchitz, op. cit.,
p. 58)
Uniformly patinated the color of rich maple syrup, Lipchitz suggests his harlequin's motley attire and jaunty aspect with well-placed ridges and curves thoroughly integrated into the whole, even the hat is set at such an angle as to promote the human character as well as balance the formal composition.
One of the first sculptures made in 1919 was the Harlequin
with Accordion. It reflects my interest in eighteenth
century paintings, particulary that of Watteau.... The Pierrots
and harlequins were part of our general vocabulary, characters
taken from the commedia dell'arte, particularly popular in
the eighteenth century. We may have been attracted to them
originally because of their gay traditional costumes, involving
many different varicolored areas. (J. Lipchitz, op. cit.,
p. 58)
Uniformly patinated the color of rich maple syrup, Lipchitz suggests his harlequin's motley attire and jaunty aspect with well-placed ridges and curves thoroughly integrated into the whole, even the hat is set at such an angle as to promote the human character as well as balance the formal composition.