The Swing of Pulcinella 1793

Editor: This is Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo's "The Swing of Pulcinella," painted in 1793. It's a fresco, and there's something chaotic yet playful about the scene. How do you interpret this work? Curator: The painting offers a fascinating glimpse into the performance of societal roles. The Pulcinella character, derived from the Commedia dell'Arte, historically embodies the plight of the working class, a figure of both wit and suffering. How does Tiepolo engage with that history here, at the close of the 18th century? Editor: It's interesting you say that because, at first glance, it seemed simply whimsical. Is the chaotic scene actually a commentary on social structures? Curator: I believe so. The very act of these figures on a swing, frozen in what could be interpreted as either enjoyment or a precarious balancing act, brings to mind ideas of precarious labour. Tiepolo uses the familiar iconography to question what performance and social mobility looked like on the verge of modernity. Does the clothing of the Pulcinellas give you any clues about their potential status? Editor: They’re all in the same white costume. Maybe this equalizes them, no matter their literal ups and downs? Or is it an attempt to create a character who is separate from a clear identity? Curator: Precisely. Their actions, the act of swinging itself, and their identical dress might reflect the anxieties about shifting social boundaries at this historical moment, especially considering the backdrop of emerging revolutionary ideologies. What do you take away from Tiepolo giving the stage to the marginalized Pulcinella character? Editor: I hadn't considered that. It makes the artwork much richer when you realize it speaks to both the humor and anxieties of its time. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. It's in examining these seemingly simple narratives through an intersectional lens that we truly begin to unlock their complexities.