Mask with Long Eyebrows and Mustache and a Headdress with Dangling Cloth, from Divers Masques 1630 - 1650

Curator: This etching, attributed to François Chauveau and dating from 1630 to 1650, is entitled "Mask with Long Eyebrows and Mustache and a Headdress with Dangling Cloth, from Divers Masques." Editor: It's…unsettling. The face seems to droop, and the deep etching gives it an almost grotesque quality. I’m drawn to the exaggerated eyebrows and that skeletal grin, though. Curator: As a print, consider the economic aspect. This belonged to a series of "Divers Masques," likely intended for distribution and consumption amongst a specific social group interested in performance. The paper and ink used—were they of high quality or mass-produced? That would tell us a lot about its intended audience. Editor: True. Its purpose would inform its cultural context, and understanding that is essential. Was it a commentary on societal roles or a simple piece of entertainment? The image itself feels quite ambiguous. Those tassels hanging down give me the impression of tears…or maybe stage curtains? Curator: Notice the materiality of the etching lines themselves. The varying thicknesses and depths clearly shape the face. Chauveau employed particular techniques to emphasize volume and texture, thus shaping the viewer's perception. It seems a skillful exploitation of the etching process. The plate had to be prepared so meticulously, which makes one think of all the stages, skill and labour required. Editor: The details, especially the headdress, suggest Baroque sensibilities, albeit tinged with a sort of dark humor. I wonder how these “Divers Masques” were used, were they purely theatrical, or used for private social occasions, or just kept for entertainment in portfolios and print collections? The context and social environment certainly dictates how it should be interpreted. Curator: I think we are able to glean certain socio-economic details through analyzing materials, labor practices and modes of consumption related to its existence. By focusing on these elements we understand how these kinds of imagery served society and catered to the tastes of particular markets. Editor: Absolutely. It allows us to view the artwork less as a single artifact, and more like something integral within its time. A lens through which we see the political and cultural landscape of the 17th century.