The Firefly 1964

Frank Wright created "The Firefly" using etching, a printmaking technique that often lends itself to pointed social commentary. Here we see a figure in harlequin garb, that stock character from commedia dell’arte, which swept across Europe beginning in the 16th century. The harlequin was a subversive trickster who used wit to mock the powerful. Wright's harlequin is a decidedly dark figure: he holds a mask to his face and appears to smoke from a bubble quoting Lorenzo de Medici, "Quant'è bella giovinezza," or "How beautiful is youth." Wright, who lived through times of great social change in America, often incorporated textual references into his prints, layering meaning for his viewers. To further understand Wright’s intent, consider his personal history as an African American artist working in the mid to late 20th century. Researching that history, alongside the commedia dell’arte tradition, may help us to unravel Wright's personal and cultural critique.