Carnaval 1896. Grand Veglione De Gala 1896

Jules Chéret designed this lithographic poster in 1896 to advertise a masquerade ball at the Théâtre de l'Opéra in Paris. It encapsulates the vibrant entertainment culture of the Belle Époque. At the forefront, a woman in an elegant green gown and a masked man in blackface attire invite us into a world of fantasy and spectacle. The depiction of blackface raises questions about the representation and appropriation of Black identity in European popular culture. During this period, minstrel shows and caricatures perpetuated harmful stereotypes, reflecting and reinforcing colonial power dynamics. The poster then becomes not just an invitation to a ball, but a window into the complex social and racial dynamics of the time. The figures in the background hint at the excitement and anonymity that such events offered. Consider how the poster uses pleasure and spectacle to both reflect and shape societal attitudes.