From "Bizzarie di varie Figure" 1624

Giovanni Battista Bracelli made this print from "Bizzarie di varie Figure" in Italy, sometime in the early to mid-17th century. The image’s simplified forms, made entirely from geometric shapes, suggest the influence of the Mannerist style. What's fascinating is how Bracelli uses geometric abstraction to depict figures, while also referencing the highly stylized characters of the Commedia dell'arte. This form of theater relied on stock characters wearing masks and distinctive costumes. The figure on the right, with its diamond pattern, is likely Harlequin, a mischievous servant. Consider the social function of such images at the time. Were they subversive? Were they humorous? To fully understand its significance, we might investigate the status of printmaking in 17th-century Italy, the patronage system that supported artists like Bracelli, and the cultural role of Commedia dell'arte. Art history, after all, is about placing images within their specific social and institutional contexts.