Pulcinella in Love 1793

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo’s "Pulcinella in Love" was likely made with watercolor and ink on paper. Tiepolo employed traditional materials and processes, using flowing lines and transparent washes of color. These watercolor techniques require the artist to apply the pigment in layers, building depth and form through careful gradations of tone. Look closely, and you will see the thinness of the drawing, the almost nonchalant approach to making this scene of figures in powdered wigs. This very approach signals that it’s not a work of formal painting, like oil on canvas. Instead, the use of the materials speaks to the production of a study, or perhaps even a cartoon - a model for future, more monumental works. The artist skillfully conveys the textures of the characters’ costumes, from the rough fabric of Pulcinella’s garb to the delicate lace and feathers adorning the figure in the wig. The labor required for this type of work differs significantly from the labor of those depicted. Consider the skilled artistic tradition that is needed to render an image of a commoner. This reminds us that materials, making, and context are essential in understanding the full meaning of an artwork.