Harlequin in 'Le Carnaval', a Ballet by Mikhail Fokine
1950
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1950
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Harlequin in 'Le Carnaval', a Ballet by Mikhail Fokine is a 1950 paint by W. S. Lakeman, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting depicts a harlequin, a character from commedia dell'arte, in a ballet costume. The harlequin is shown in a dramatic pose, with one hand on his hip and the other touching his chin. He wears a black mask, a white shirt with a large black bow tie, and colorful diamond-patterned tights. The harlequin's attire is a mix of red, green, and cream colors, which stand out against the muted background. The overall mood of the painting is one of elegance and refinement, capturing the essence of a ballet performance. To learn more about the artist behind this piece, explore the works of Lakeman, W. S.
The painting depicts a full-length male dancer in the role of Harlequin from Mikhail Fokine's ballet *Le Carnaval*, shown with his left hand under his chin and his right hand on his hip. He wears a black skull cap and half mask, a white shirt with a black flowing cravat, and tights adorned with red, cream, and green lozenges, paired with white socks and black shoes. Executed in oil paint and gouache, the work is signed and inscribed by the artist, W. S. Lakeman, to C. W. Beaumont. It may relate to a 1914 poster design for Nijinsky’s performance as Harlequin or be a later copy of that artwork.
Read the full account in the museum source.
W. S. Lakeman made early 20th-century paintings and prints inspired by ballet and exotic stories. Look at their “Harlequin in 'Le Carnaval', a Ballet by Mikhail Fokine” to see a dancer caught mid-jump in bright costume,…
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