Punchinello as a Dressmaker c. 1800

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo rendered this drawing, Punchinello as a Dressmaker, with pen and brown wash, creating a theater of social satire. Here, Punchinello, a stock character from the commedia dell'arte, is presented as both subject and symbol. Note the long nose and hunched back, the hallmarks of this figure, typically a symbol of the lower classes, now attempting to assume a role of high society. The recurring image of Punchinello, or Punch, echoes through art history—a subversive figure who appears in various guises to poke fun at the follies of the powerful. Consider how he resurfaces in Goya’s prints or Daumier’s caricatures, each time reborn to critique the absurdities of the age. This character embodies a collective memory of social upheaval, a playful yet pointed critique of societal norms. Through Tiepolo's Punchinello, we see not just a comical figure but a mirror reflecting the evolving theater of human folly.