JokerxHarley: "That" Image (aka Overanalysis Theatre)
This beautiful illustration by Alex Ross has pretty much become recognised as the 'definitive' pictorial representation of their relationship. I wanted to take a moment and reflect on why.
There are so many lovely, thoughtful elements in its composition that say so much about the relationship in such a very simple way.
At first glance, it looks like what this relationship always looks like at first glance - one-sided. Harley adoring him while he is barely aware of her.
Harley's attention, of course, is fixed entirely on the Joker, while his gaze is directed outwards, at us. However it would be a mistake to say he is not aware of her - he very much is. His right hand rests delicately on her waist, while he clasps her hand in his other.
His fingertips are floating on her body in a way that seems detached but when combined with the grip he has on her other wrist, reveals it as carressing - indeed, if it was positioned much higher or much lower his touch would be obscene. In the curl of those fingers, there is an intimacy that is slightly awkward to look upon. Meanwhile, he is gripping her other wrist hard in his other hand. There is nothing indifferent or detached about the way he is firmly holding her wrist - it is possessive and authoritative. Harley's hand, meanwhile, is relaxed in the grip, showing her ease and comfort with it.
Joker's gaze is very direct and confronting to those looking at the image. He's decisively positioned her to be facing outwards, towards us. He wants us to look at her, to see the way she looks at him, to see his ownership of her. His grin is smug and wickedly gleeful - he's showing her off, showing off what he has created and inviting us to share in the joke, knowing it discomfits us and enjoying that. For the Joker, we are audience to this relationship and he wants us to acknowledge it. Harley is his creation and he delights in displaying her to our gaze.
While Harley's attention is utterly fixed upon Joker, gazing upon him adoringly, but she demonstrates awareness of her role as a performer in the preciseness of her pose, her hips angled forward and her free arm lovingly touching her man's shoulder. She is aware he is displaying her and is complicit in it - even delighted.
The completely fabulous hexyhex adds this observation: One of the things that had always stood out the most when I view it is the actual pose they're in. It's reminiscent of a dance, but as a musician what jumps out to me is the reference to how a cello or double bass player (or even a guitarist) holds their instrument. He's displaying her as a creation,an artwork, whilst gripping and caressing her like he's coaxing a tune out of her. I love the suggestion that through his skill at playing her, Harley is his willing instrument. :)
The beautiful crystal_cabinet also adds this: I think it's interesting how his right hand is placed gently on her body, as if she's a frail porcelain doll, while his left one is holding hers firmly, maybe even slightly possessively? It's reflecting their relationship, or his feelings towards her. Sometimes he's affectionate (one episode of of BTAS comes to my mind, I think it was The Trial, when he passes near her and pets her and smiles before proceeding into a room), often times he's very cruel and manipulative, but either way - he does care about her. In his own way.
And the splendid eccentricdoll contributes this: Besides looking at where Joker's hands are placed, I see both Harley's hands playing just as crucial a role. For example, her right wrist (on our left) is positioned in a very throw away fashion. A sense of giving everything up for the Joker. Letting go of everything for him. That same hand also seems to be caressing his shoulder--even if we aren't able to see it.
Her left wrist (our right) seems to completely crumple as Joker seems to hold so tightly, the wrist itself seems to suffocate. The look on her face suggests she doesn't mind it. She's playing her part, and is more than willing and happy to.
Of note is how Joker blends into the solid background while Harley is in bold relief against it, clearly defined. This again underscores the fact he is displaying her as his creation and also that he completely encompasses her; he is her world.
I have only one criticism of this image and that is that Harley is way too tall. However, I understand why it was done this way, so both of them could be best framed within the image. And I guess we could say she is standing on something. XD Also, I don't think Mistah J's hairline needs to be receeding quite so much.
But gosh, I love this image (me and everyone else).