Masquerade in winter 1966

Ivan Generalic’s “Masquerade in Winter” presents a carnival scene brimming with symbolic inversions. Here, the most striking figure is the rooster-headed character, a motif stretching back to ancient Greece, where roosters were associated with courage and dawn, warding off darkness. But observe how Generalic reframes this symbol. The rooster, traditionally a symbol of vigilance, is placed amidst revelry, challenging our understanding of order. This echoes medieval festivals, where the established hierarchy was playfully upended. Consider too, the small red flowers held by the figure, juxtaposed against the winter snow. Flowers in winter is a potent symbol of life's persistence and beauty. The masquerade itself is an emotional release, a moment where collective anxieties and desires surface. The distorted faces and hybrid figures embody a psychological landscape, where the subconscious takes physical form, reminding us that even in the depths of winter, the seeds of spring lie dormant.