Italiaanse toneelspelers 1706 - 1762

Around 1730, Bernard Baron created this engraving, titled "Italiaanse toneelspelers," now held at the Rijksmuseum. This print reproduces a painting by Jean-Antoine Watteau depicting actors of the Comédie Italienne, a popular form of theater in France at the time. The Comédie Italienne was known for its stock characters, improvisation, and satirical commentary on social and political issues. Consider how Baron, working within the institutional structures of printmaking, reproduces Watteau's painting, and in turn disseminates imagery of the Comédie Italienne. This print also reflects a broader interest in theater and performance within the cultural landscape of 18th-century Europe. Were these actors progressive in their social commentary or were they simply reflecting conservative social norms? To understand it fully, we can consult theater histories, social commentaries from the period, and institutional records of art production and consumption to understand the social conditions that gave rise to this artwork.