Keying Up, The Court Jester 

William Merritt Chase painted “Keying Up, The Court Jester” at the turn of the 20th century, perhaps using oil on canvas. Here, the artist presents us with a vision of the classic court jester: dressed in traditional garb, complete with bells, a mask, and an almost sinister grin. But what does this figure really represent? The jester holds a glass of wine, suggesting merriment and revelry. However, the dark tones and the jester's sly expression hint at something more complex. In European courts, jesters had a unique role: to speak truth to power through humor. They were licensed to critique social norms and political figures, making them both entertainers and social commentators. Painted in the United States, this image invites us to consider the artist's commentary on American society at the time. Was Chase critiquing the excesses of the Gilded Age, or perhaps lampooning the political elite? To understand this fully, we might delve into historical texts, political cartoons, and Chase's own writings, all to better understand the social commentary embedded in this captivating image.