The French Comedians c. 1720

Jean-Antoine Watteau captured in paint the ephemeral world of the French Comedians. The exaggerated gestures and elaborate costumes are echoes of the Commedia dell'Arte, a theatrical form brimming with stock characters and well-worn scenarios. Notice the character shielding their face. This motif of concealing one's emotions, of hidden feelings, dates back to antiquity. We see it in depictions of mourning figures on Roman sarcophagi, a gesture of grief. Yet here, it is transplanted into a theatrical setting. It invites a psychological reading. The Commedia was a carnival mirror reflecting society's desires and anxieties. Its masks allowed performers and audiences to explore forbidden desires. The enduring appeal of these archetypes lies in their ability to tap into collective memories, resurfacing time and again in our art, theater, and even our daily interactions.