Man and Woman in Masquerade Costume as 'Punchinello' c. 19th century

Paul Gavarni rendered this watercolor of masquerade costumes in the mid-19th century, capturing the essence of 'Punchinello', or Pulcinella. This character, with roots in the 17th-century Commedia dell'arte, embodies a duality: the fool and the philosopher, a subversive wit cloaked in simple garb. The white costume, a stark contrast to the character's typically dark mask in earlier depictions, signifies a shedding of identity, a blank canvas onto which societal critiques are painted. This motif of masking and unmasking echoes through centuries, from ancient Greek theatre to modern-day street performance. Think of the carnival masks in Venice, where identities blur and societal norms are playfully inverted. Consider the psychological weight of such performances: the subconscious desire to escape societal constraints, to embody a different self, if only for a fleeting moment. Gavarni's 'Punchinello' is not merely a costume but a conduit for collective desires, a figure who continues to resonate with our deepest selves through history.