Jeune garçon en costume de folie 

Philippe Mercier painted this portrait of a boy dressed in a costume in the 18th century. Note the vertical orientation, which focuses our attention on the figure, whose gaze draws us in. Mercier uses colour and form to create a playful image. The green hues of the boy’s outfit, juxtaposed with the red of his cape, reflect a light-hearted mood. The hat, adorned with bells and a miniature doll, destabilizes the fixed notions of childhood. The boy’s soft smile further contributes to this playful atmosphere, yet a sense of melancholic reflection persists. The jester’s scepter, topped with a miniature figure, extends vertically, echoing the orientation of the painting. This symbolic element is a counterpoint to the verticality, as it disrupts conventional meanings. In its structural composition and subtle semiotic disruptions, the painting functions as a commentary on societal roles and identities. It questions established categories through visual and symbolic cues.