Carnival at Nice 

Paul Signac captured the vibrant Carnival at Nice with watercolor. Here, the costumed figures take center stage, their masks and bright clothing echoing a tradition stretching back to ancient rituals. These disguises allowed a temporary inversion of social order. Consider the masks themselves – a motif deeply embedded in human culture. From the theatrical masks of ancient Greece to the commedia dell'arte, masks serve as a conduit for exploring alternate identities and liberating subconscious desires. They become a potent symbol of psychological release, allowing the wearer to shed inhibitions. Even today, masked balls and parades preserve this ancient tradition. The cyclical nature of the Carnival, a brief period of revelry, then a return to order, mirrors our own internal rhythms of control and release. Signac reminds us that these primal urges never truly disappear.