Harlequin to Harley Quinn

Feature image: Harlequin Family, Picasso, 1905 via Pop Culture History

Harley Quinn, the famously tricky foe of Batman in the DC Comic universe, has become an icon in modern media and a staple in the closet of Halloween costumes. Her unpredictable yet charismatic personality has won the viewers' hearts and helped upgrade her from sidekick to leading lady. The name, costume, and personality of Harley Quinn can all be traced back to the 16th-century stock character from Commedia dell'arte named Harlequin. Many stock characters from this theatrical form still exist in today’s world, like Pierrot the sad clown, but none of them are as popular or prevalent as Harley Quinn. In his earliest form, Harlequin played the role of a wily servant, often playing tricks on his master. He was physically agile, cunning, superstitious, and characterized by his diamond-patterned costumes. Our modern-day Harley Quinn is similar; she is physically agile, witty, and always features a diamond-shaped motif in her clothing. There have been many Harlequin-type characters in the DC series. The first was created in 1947 and named Molly Mayne. There were two other iterations of the harlequin character: Macie Many and Harlequin IV. It wasn’t until 1992 that the Harley Quinn we know and love made her first debut in Batman: The Animated Series. 

Originally, Harlequin wore a peasant’s shirt with long trousers covered in colorful patches. This later gave way to the more recognizable tight-fitting costume with diamond-shaped motifs. Here, Harlequin is seen in the latter costume, donning a black and red diamond-patterned suit and bicorn hat. He also carries a wooden sword known as a batte or slapstick. Slapsticks are paddles composed of two pieces of wood that, when slapped together, make a loud whacking sound. It was used for comedic acts of violence and is where the term slapstick comedy got its name. This iteration of Harlequin’s costume feels particularly relevant to the first costume we see on Harley Quinn, which is also black and red with diamond-shaped motifs.

In his early iteration, Harlequin was wily and covetous, but by the 17th century, his character had shifted to that of a faithful valet who was patient and passionate. While it's clear that our modern-day Harley Quinn is far more influenced by the first iteration of the harlequin character, all iterations of this character have some overlapping qualities. They were collectively known for their cleverness and their amoral character. In this depiction of Harlequin, Derain features the colorful diamond-shaped patches of the Harlequin outfit. He wears the bicorn hat and is also shown holding a lute, another common accessory of Harlequin.

Molly Mayne is the first of the Harlequin-type characters to appear in the DC Comic universe. She was the nemesis of Green Lantern and wears a jester-inspired outfit. In appearance, she holds little inspiration from the Commedia Harlequin but carries a mandolin with her (a stringed instrument very similar to a lute). It's the next harlequin-type character, Marci Cooper, who looks very similar to her commedia counterpart. Cooper wears a form-fitting diamond-shaped suit, carries a mandolin, and wears the classic bicorn hat.

While Harley Quinn never sports the complete diamond-shaped costume, all of her outfits feature diamond-shaped elements. Her 1992 outfit features the form-fitted suit and, like Cezanne’s depiction, is black and red. Small groupings of diamonds can be seen on her arms, thigh, and calf. Her slapstick is replaced with an oversized wooden mallet and revolver with a cork in the barrel. Harley Quinn made her first live-action appearance in Margot Robbie’s iconic rendition in Suicide Squad (2016) and its sequel, Birds of Prey (2020). In these two performances, most of Quinn’s outfits still feature some kind of diamond motif. In fact, the cluster of diamonds on Quinn’s thigh from her animated outfit can be seen tattooed in the same location. The black and red coloring and diamond motif are also featured in Harley Quinn’s outfit in the 2019 animated Harley Quinn series. 

While Harleen Quinzel made her debut in the DC universe as a side character, she has taken the world by storm and become a leading lady. Harlequin characters have a long history as fan favorites from their first iterations in the 1500s as a stock Commedia character. This popularity persists in the beloved DC character we know and love today. Harley Quinn’s fame will likely only increase with the release of Joker: folie a deux featuring the fabulous Lady Gaga in the role of Harley Quinn. Gaga also recently released her newest album, Harlequin, in conjunction with the film. Harlequin is the original personality and costuming inspiration for the character we love today.