Pierrot and Columbine 

Jules Chéret made this scene of Pierrot and Columbine, characters from the traditional Italian Commedia dell'arte, using pastel crayons. Chéret, working at the turn of the 20th century, was a key figure in the development of the advertising poster. This image is fascinating, isn't it? It speaks to the era's changing social dynamics. The Commedia dell'arte, with its roots in popular culture, often featured characters who challenged the established order. Pierrot, the sad clown, and Columbine, the clever and independent servant girl, allowed a space to explore evolving roles for women and critiques of class structure. Columbine's active role in the scene and the overall emphasis on movement and energy, breaks from more traditional, static representations. These images are often read as purely celebratory, and yet I think they remind us that festive periods have always been opportunities to question, subvert, and renegotiate the status quo.