Picasso identified with Harlequin whom he also associated with Christ due to the character's mystical power over death. This is the largest Harlequin, which is cleverly hidden behind the surface imagery. The outline of the face can be seen in the lines and background tones of the composition, the eyes and the tuft of hair to the right of the face are clearly visible. The Harlequin appears to be crying a diamond tear for the victims of the bombing. The diamond is one of the Harlequin's symbols and in Picasso's work it is a personal signature.
Painters often rotate or invert paintings to check balance and stability in the composition.
Picasso knew from this and from his Cubist experiments that sideways or inverted imagery could have a powerful subliminal effect on the viewer and give a work hidden meanings and magical secrecy. The next Harlequin is easily recognisable as the painting is rotated 90 degrees to the right. From this viewpoint, Harlequin's hat becomes obvious as the figure appears to look upwards at the sky as if in reference to the bombing. This is another Harlequin, seen by rotating the painting 90 degrees to the left. The outline of the face and traditional hat and mask make him identifiable.