Opéra, Carnaval 1892, 1er Bal Masqué 1892

Jules Chéret created this lithograph poster for the Opéra's Carnaval in Paris in 1892. It captures the spirit of the masked ball, a space for revelry and social freedom, yet also one deeply embedded in the rigid class structures of late 19th-century French society. The poster uses visual codes of luxury – the woman's elegant yellow gown, the champagne glasses, the bouquet of roses – to evoke the Opera's elite clientele. The figures in masks point to the theater's role as a temporary escape from social norms. During the Carnaval, the upper classes were allowed to mingle with the lower classes, but only under the condition of anonymity. Chéret's poster presents a fantasy of social mixing. To fully understand this image, we can draw on studies of Parisian nightlife and the cultural history of the Opera. These resources allow us to interpret the Carnaval not just as entertainment, but as a reflection of the complex social dynamics of its time.