Venetian Carnival Mask in Colorful Watercolor by Andreea Eva Herczegh

About "Venetian Carnival Mask in Colorful Watercolor"

by Andreea Eva Herczegh

About the artwork

Colorful watercolor painting of a Venetian carnival mask.
Traditional Venetian masks were worn to conceal the wearer's identity, and they eventually became popular during the Venetian Carnival.
Commedia dell'Arte masks and Carnival masks are the two divisions of the masks.

The Venetian Carnival, which some historians argue was first celebrated in 1168, is associated with Venetian masks, which were first mentioned in writing in the 13th century.
Mask-makers (mascareri) were organized by the Guild of Decorators by the year 1436, when mask-making was acknowledged as a legitimate profession in Venice.

The Republic of Venice only allowed nobles to participate in government and public life, creating a highly stratified society in Venice. However, the carnival relaxed the restrictions and the use of masks allowed commoners and nobility to mix.
It appeared that both the Carnival and Venetian masks were a part of Venice's history when Mussolini banned it in 1930.
However, a handful of organizers united in 1979 to bring Carnival back to Venice, and Venetian business people soon realized Carnival could function as a very profitable additional tourism season.
The Water Parade, Festa delle Marie, and the Flight of the Angel are some of the highlights of contemporary carnival, and masks play a significant role in it.

Visit my Digital Watercolor album collection gallery, at https://andreeaevaphoto.werkaandemuur.nl/nl, for more colorful watercolor artworks.

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