Masquerade c. 1512 - 1515

This is an anonymous, undated drawing entitled "Masquerade." We see a performance taking place in a grand hall. In the foreground, masked figures dance, while in the background, three women observe the spectacle. During the Renaissance, masquerades were popular forms of entertainment that allowed participants to adopt different identities, temporarily blurring social boundaries. Class and gender are highlighted by the costumery on display, as well as the setting itself: a grand hall, removed from public spaces, and accessible only to the privileged. Note how the women in the background are observing the spectacle from an elevated platform. What does it mean to watch but not participate? What rules and social expectations govern both the dancers and the watchers? While masquerades afforded a certain degree of freedom, it is important to consider who had access to that freedom, and under what conditions. This image serves as a looking glass, reflecting and shaping societal issues of power, privilege, and identity.