Two sheets (printed as one) with verses in Valencian for masquerades 1855 - 1875

This is a printed sheet with verses for masquerades, made in Valencia by Julian Mariana, though the date isn't specified. It’s printed on fairly cheap paper. The relatively low cost of the print is important here. Printed ephemera like this were designed to be widely distributed. The verses would have been recited or sung during carnival celebrations, a moment when social norms could be temporarily upended. It's interesting that the image is made with a reproductive technology, which itself was related to the rise of capitalism. The roughness of the printing is notable; this isn't fine art. The overall effect is charming. It invites us to imagine the festive atmosphere in which these verses were used, and how they might have been used to poke fun at social conventions. The survival of this sheet also speaks to the value of everyday creativity. We shouldn't only be interested in masterpieces when considering the creative legacies of the past.