Allusive verses for masquerades 1855 - 1875

This is a broadside made by Julian Mariana, printed with ink on paper. It’s titled "Allusive Verses for Masquerades". A broadside like this was a single sheet of paper, printed on one side, and used to disseminate information, news, or even entertainment. In this case, the sheet presents verses alluding to masquerades, with small illustrations of people in costume. It gives us a window into the carnivalesque culture that would have been popular in the place and time that it was made. Although we don’t know the specific date it was made, we can infer that it was made in Spain because the print reads 'Imprenta de D. Julian Marina, calle de Caballeros', which translates to 'Printing press of D. Julian Marina, street of Gentlemen'. These verses offer a glimpse into the kind of satirical, playful, and sometimes provocative content that would have circulated in popular culture. To understand this artwork better, we’d need to look at other examples of Spanish print culture and popular festivities. This can help us interpret the image and reflect on the social and cultural context in which it was made.