The artwork titled “Pierrot” was created by artist Juan Gris in 1921. Executed in oil on canvas, this piece represents the Cubist art movement and serves as a portrait. The dimensions of the artwork are 115 x 73 cm. It is housed in the National Gallery of Ireland, located in Dublin, Ireland.
“Pierrot,” a quintessential example of Cubism, features a highly stylized and fragmented representation of the titular character, a stock figure in the Italian commedia dell’arte. The composition is characterized by the use of geometric shapes and the interplay of light and dark colors, creating a sense of depth and fragmentation. Through the use of sharp angles and overlapping forms, Gris has deconstructed the subject into abstract shapes while still preserving enough of the figure’s iconic features, such as the white ruff and facial makeup, to make its identity recognizable. The viewer’s attention is drawn to the central figure, which is flanked by objects that appear to be simultaneously fused with and disjointed from the figure itself, typical of Cubist experimentation with perspective and form. The background provides a stark contrast, enhancing the detached and surreal quality of this metaphoric piece.
