The scene of Pulcinella 1823

Saverio della Gatta created this watercolor, "The Scene of Pulcinella," to capture a slice of Neapolitan street life. The image plunges us into the world of the commedia dell'arte, a form which allowed for a lot of cultural critique through stock characters. Here, we see Pulcinella, a figure who embodies the struggles and triumphs of the common person, the working class. He sits atop a donkey, his gaze directed at the puppet show which serves as a mirror of society. The audience, a mix of classes, highlights how culture can bridge social divides, but also how it can reflect existing inequalities. Della Gatta’s work invites us to consider how identity is performed and perceived, both on and off the stage. What does it mean to laugh at ourselves, to find humor in the midst of hardship, and to see our own stories reflected in the masks of others?