Technical Study of Harlequin with a Mirror, by Picasso
With the collaboration of:
On the occasion of 25th anniversary of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, the Restoration Department and the Modern Painting Department are pleased to present the results and conclusions of their technical study of an iconic work in our collection: Harlequin with a Mirror, by Pablo Ruiz Picasso.
The aims of this project were to demonstrate the most interesting aspects of the creative process behind this painting, shed light on how it was conceived and in this way gain an insight into how the artist worked.
The analysis consisted in applying the different study methods commonly used in museum laboratories: X-ray, infrared reflectography, analysis of the materials used by the author, and a detailed photography documentation. Using this methodology, we set out to determine the technique employed, the composition of the materials, their distribution in the different layers, and the variations and rectifications which the Málaga-born master included in his creative process.
