Itinerant Fools, costume sketch for Henry Irving’s 1898 Planned Production of Richard II 

Edwin Austin Abbey made this costume sketch for Henry Irving’s planned 1898 production of Richard II. Here, we see three figures garbed as itinerant fools, or wandering jesters. Note the harlequin patterns and pointed hats; these are visual shorthand for the medieval jester. This archetype predates even Shakespeare, tracing back to ancient Roman mimes and traveling performers. Yet, the fool is not merely a source of amusement. The fool occupies a liminal space within the court, a truth-teller cloaked in jest. Consider the figure on the right, finger to his lips. It echoes the classical “Hush!” motif, seen in images of Harpocrates, the god of silence. But here, it's tinged with ambiguity. Is it a call for discretion or a symbol of the fool’s suppressed wisdom? This symbol has undergone many transformations. Over time, such gestures resurface, revealing how deeply human expression is rooted in historical and cultural memory.