Punchinellos Hunting Waterfowl c. 1800

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo made this pen and wash drawing, Punchinellos Hunting Waterfowl, in 18th-century Venice. It is part of a series depicting the Punchinello character, a commedia dell'arte figure known for his wit and buffoonery. Tiepolo's Punchinellos offer a satirical view of Venetian society. Here, we see them engaged in a hunt, a pastime of the aristocracy, but the clumsy figures turn the pursuit into a ridiculous spectacle. The conical hats, a trademark of Punchinello, further mock the norms of social status and decorum. Venice at this time was in decline, and the ruling class seemed oblivious to the growing social and political unrest. Tiepolo’s Punchinello drawings can be understood as a commentary on that state of affairs. They lampoon the elite, offering a much-needed critique of their self-importance and detachment from reality. To understand Tiepolo's work fully, scholars consult historical sources, theater archives, and costume books to interpret the cultural context in which these images were made. The meaning of art, after all, is deeply embedded in its social and institutional world.