Carnival 1894

This etching, "Carnival," by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, presents a man and a woman side by side, their profiles stark and suggestive. The harlequin mask looms large, a symbol as ancient as theatre itself, recalling the Roman mime and the commedia dell'arte, where he represents cunning and chaos. The mask's prominent nose and exaggerated features are reminiscent of ancient caricatures used to mock and subvert societal norms. Think of the grotesque masks worn in ancient fertility rites designed to ward off evil spirits, or the medieval gargoyles perched on cathedrals meant to frighten away demons. These exaggerated features tap into our collective memory, stirring subconscious anxieties and desires. The harlequin figure, a potent symbol of transformation, mirrors our own inner capacity for change, reminding us that beneath the surface of respectability lies the potential for disruption and revelry. This echoes through time, as we find it surfacing time and time again in the human psyche.