Drie Pierrots houden een loterij tijdens carnaval 1840

This lithograph by Paul Gavarni captures the vibrant chaos of a carnival lottery. Observe the Pierrots, their white costumes a stark contrast to the shadowy figures surrounding them, acting as masters of ceremony. The Pierrot, with roots in the Italian commedia dell'arte, is no stranger to the stage of human emotion. Once a symbol of naivety and unrequited love, here, he presides over a game of chance. Notice how Gavarni has depicted them: bespectacled, almost scholarly. This is a far cry from their origins, isn't it? Their presence evokes the ancient Roman Saturnalia, where social hierarchies were playfully inverted through games and masquerade. Consider the collective effervescence: the hope, anxiety, and perhaps a touch of desperation. The symbols evolve but the human theatre endures, driven by the same primal urges that have always propelled us.