Gezicht op een gemaskerd bal 1742 - 1801

Georg Balthasar Probst created this print of a masked ball, capturing a scene of social festivity and anonymity. The 18th century was a time of rigid social hierarchies, and masked balls offered a temporary escape from these structures, where identities could be obscured. This image raises questions about performance, visibility, and social roles. Notice how the masks and costumes allow the wearers to explore different facets of their identities. The gaze of the figures is also important: some look at each other while others look out at the viewer, implicating us in this elaborate performance. Prints like these were popular as souvenirs, allowing individuals to take a piece of the experience home with them. What does it mean to turn a social event into a commodity? It invites us to consider how our own experiences become shaped by the desire to capture and share them, often blurring the lines between authenticity and artifice.