Artwork
Arlechin
Arlechin is a print by Corneliu Baba. It dates from 1986 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Art of Romania.
About this work
Overview
Corneliu Baba’s 1986 painting Arlechin presents a solitary figure clad in a vivid, patterned jacket dominated by bold black, white and orange motifs. The subject wears a dark, forward‑tilted hat that obscures the forehead, set against a predominantly dark background that intensifies the jacket’s chromatic impact.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on a lone individual whose facial features appear deliberately distorted, suggesting an exploration of perception and identity. The exaggerated hat and ambiguous expression invite viewers to question the reliability of visual cues and the psychological state of the figure.
Technique & Style
Baba employs a heavy impasto application, laying down thick, textured brushstrokes that convey a tactile, almost sculptural surface. The paint is applied with a forceful, almost slap‑like gesture, creating a rough, gestural quality that contrasts with the sharp geometric patterns of the jacket.
History & Provenance
Created in 1986, Arlechin belongs to the later period of Baba’s oeuvre, a time when he increasingly experimented with expressive surface treatment. The painting’s ownership history remains limited to private collections, with no public exhibition records documented to date.
Artist & collection
Artist
Corneliu Baba was a Romanian painter, primarily a portraitist, but also known as a genre painter and an illustrator of books.
