The Carnival in Rome. Fragment 1828

Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg captured this fragment of the Carnival in Rome with oil on canvas. Although seemingly traditional, the oil paint is treated in such a way to convey the social context of the scene. Consider the clothing of the figures – the Harlequin’s suit, for instance. Traditionally, these were made from scraps of fabric, reflecting poverty, but in this depiction, the costume’s meticulous rendering lends it an air of bourgeois affectation. The artist’s technique also draws attention to labor. The fine brushwork and attention to detail suggest a tremendous amount of patient work. This is especially true in the rendering of the Harlequin's suit, the costumes texture, and the subtle gradations of light and shadow across the scene. By highlighting the labor involved in both the creation and portrayal of this festive scene, Eckersberg invites us to consider the social dynamics at play during Carnival, blurring the lines between fine art and the everyday realities of labor and class.