Gekostumeerd bal Possibly 1839

This print by Charles Louis Malapeau depicts a costumed ball and was likely made in France in the early to mid-19th century. The image suggests the kind of social life enjoyed by the upper classes in Paris at this time. The work is surrounded by a decorative border, complete with masks, floral arrangements and medallions of mythical creatures that give it the flavor of ‘high culture’. The characters within the frame, however, are less refined and more varied. One figure is dressed as a harlequin, but there is also a minotaur-like creature lurking in the background. The print testifies to the popular appeal of masquerade, a widespread custom in Parisian society. Further research into this type of imagery and the social life of Paris would help us to understand the norms and hierarchies of the time, as well as the way the institution of art both represented and shaped them.