Broadside with 48 scenes depicting the triumphal entry and burial and entry of the new carnival 1855 - 1875

This late nineteenth-century broadside by Antonio Bosch captures the cycle of Carnival through forty-eight vignettes. The title, "Triumphant Entry and Burial of the New Carnival," points to the festival’s core drama: a period of joyous excess followed by a symbolic death and rebirth. The recurring motif of the procession dominates, echoing ancient Roman triumphs, but with a twist. Here, the figures are not emperors or generals but common folk reveling in temporary freedom from social norms. This inversion reminds us of the Roman Saturnalia, where slaves and masters switched roles, a cathartic release of societal pressures. Observe, too, the figure of death appearing towards the end of the parade, riding through the streets. It echoes the medieval “Danse Macabre,” a stark reminder of mortality amidst life’s pleasures, a dance of death where all are equal. This symbol, deeply rooted in our collective subconscious, surfaces again and again, reminding us that the end awaits even in the most joyful of celebrations. The broadside engages us on a deep, psychological level, tapping into our primal fears and desires.