Entrée de Brasseur, dans Chilpéric 1895

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec created this intriguing lithograph entitled "Entrée de Brasseur, dans Chilpéric." The scene presents Brasseur, adorned in medieval armor and helmet, mounted on horseback. Flanking him are figures in theatrical masks and costumes, setting a stage-like atmosphere. Masks, those ancient tools of disguise and revelation, carry deep cultural weight. Historically, they allowed actors to embody gods or spirits, bridging the human and divine. Here, Toulouse-Lautrec casts them in a modern light, yet their power remains. I am reminded of the carnival masks of Venice, or the ritual masks of ancient Greece, each a vessel for transformation. The mask conceals, but also amplifies, projecting hidden aspects of our selves. Think of the psychoanalytic concept of the persona—the mask we present to the world. Does Toulouse-Lautrec suggest a deeper exploration of identity and the theatricality inherent in social roles? This symbol travels through time, resurfacing in various forms to represent our complex relationship with the self.