Theatre of Masks (Théâtre des masques) 1956

Marino Marini made this print, Theatre of Masks, without a specific date, but it’s a timeless piece. Look at the network of lines. It reminds me of automatic drawing, where you let your hand go for a walk. I imagine Marini circling these figures again and again, trying to capture the dynamism of the circus. There’s a performer on horseback, arms outstretched. Is he about to fall? Is he embracing the crowd? The etching seems to embody a sense of melancholy, like clowns who are sad when they aren’t performing. The horses also look like people and the people look like horses. Everyone’s wearing a mask. This work makes me think of Picasso’s etchings, or maybe a fever dream. Artists like Marini were in constant conversation with one another. Each print, each painting, is a continuation of a dialogue that stretches back centuries. They embrace ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.