Pierrot and Arlequin are traditional characters in Italian commedia dell'arte. Cézanne was modeled by his son Paul and his friend Louis Guillaume. The white figure of Pierrot seems to be made of plaster. Harlequin's red-and-black tights symbolize the flames on the coals.
The painting depicts two characters, one dressed in a traditional harlequin costume with alternating black and red rhombuses, and the other in a white outfit with Baroque fragments. The harlequin with a sad expression represents the duality of art - joy and sadness. It emphasizes the contrast between inner turmoil and outer playfulness. The background of the painting abounds with bright colors that add dynamics and vitality to the images, creating the effect of a theatrical performance.