Masquerade 1717

Jean-Antoine Watteau created this painting, Masquerade, using oil on canvas sometime in the early 18th century. It depicts a group of people wearing masks, a popular form of entertainment in France at the time. The painting is a window into the culture of the French aristocracy, who enjoyed dressing up in costumes and attending masked balls. These events allowed people to temporarily escape the strict social hierarchy of the time. By obscuring their identities, they could engage in flirtations and other social activities that would otherwise be forbidden. Watteau's painting captures the playful spirit of these gatherings and the sense of freedom they offered. To understand this work better, we might look to primary documents such as letters and diaries from the period, as well as treatises on etiquette and fashion. The image's meanings are contingent on a rich web of social and institutional factors.