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The Harlequin's Carnival (Spanish: Carnaval de Arlequín) is an oil painting painted by Joan Miró between 1924 and 1925. It is one of the most outstanding surrealist paintings of the artist, and it is preserved in the Albright–Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York.Created between 1924 and 1925, Harlequin’s Carnival is one of Joan Miró's best-known pieces. Harlequin is the name of a well-known Italian comic theater character that is generally identified by his checkered costume. The ‘carnival’ in the title of the painting may refer to Mardi Gras, the celebration that occurs before the fasting of Lent begins.
In 1924, poet André Breton formed the Surrealist movement. Around the time of the group's formation, Miró started to paint in the surrealist style. Surrealism focused on dreams and the subconscious as artistic material, and Miró was able to draw from these ideas. He painted the subconscious, but also his own life experiences and memories. To combine these two sources he draws on his imagination to create magical elements in his paintings. This can even be seen in his early work, for instance in his 1922 detailist painting The Farm.
André Breton Buffalo, New York surrealist Surrealism The Farm Joan Miró Albright–Knox Art Gallery oil painting Mardi Gras Harlequin