Wit Cracker Collection

Harlequin and Death, 1907. Artist: Somov, Konstantin Andreyevich (1869-1939)
Harlequin and Death, 1907. Found in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Leaving the Masqued Ball. Artist: Garcia y Ramos, Jose (1852-1912)
Leaving the Masqued Ball. Found in the collection of Museo Carmen Thyssen, Malaga

Theatre National de l Opera, Grand bal de la Mi-Careme, 1921. Private Collection

A fool with parrot, 1875. Found in the Collection of State A. Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow

Portrait of Carlo Antonio Bertinazzi (1710-1783), 1740s. Found in the Collection of the Petit Palais, Musee des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris

Masked Ball
FIA5405500 Masked Ball by Hermans, Charles (1839-1924); 321x401 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Masked Ball by Hermans, Charles (1839-1924)

Portrait of Jean-Gaspard Deburau (1796-1846), 1832. Creator: Trouvé
Portrait of Jean-Gaspard Deburau (1796-1846), 1832. Found in the collection of Musee Carnavalet, Paris

Dancing Mezzetin, ca 1720. Creator: Anonymous
Dancing Mezzetin, ca 1720. Found in the collection of Musee Carnavalet, Paris

The mummers, 1873. Creator: Solomatkin, Leonid Ivanovich (1837-1883)
The mummers, 1873. Found in the Collection of State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg

Mummers, 1908. Creator: Sapunov, Nikolai Nikolayevich (1880-1912)
Mummers, 1908. Found in the Collection of State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Carnival Procession, c. 1660. Creator: Venne, Adriaen Pietersz. van de (1589-1662)
Carnival Procession, c. 1660. Found in the Collection of Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava

Fools Head, c. 1560. Private Collection

Masked Ball. Private Collection

Illustration for War of Petrushka and Stepka-Rastrepka by Evgeni Schwartz, 1925. Private Collection

The Mocking of Human Follies. Artist: Verbeeck, Frans (c. 1510-1570)
The Mocking of Human Follies. Private Collection

Natural Fools (The Triumphal Procession of the Emperor Maximilian I), ca 1515. Private Collection

Leaving the Masqued Ball. Artist: Madrazo y Garreta, Raimundo de (1841-1920)
Leaving the Masqued Ball. Found in the collection of Museo Carmen Thyssen, Malaga

Musicians and acrobats (detail). Artist: Ancient Russian frescos
Musicians and acrobats (detail). Found in the collection of Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kiev

Arriving at the Theatre on a Night of a Masked Ball. Artist: Lucas Villaamil, Eugenio (1858-1919)
Arriving at the Theatre on a Night of a Masked Ball. Found in the collection of Museo Carmen Thyssen, Malaga

Jesters playing Cochonnet, 1868. Artist: Zamacois y Zabala, Eduardo (1841-1871)
Jesters playing Cochonnet, 1868. Found in the collection of the Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao

In skomorokh dress, 1882. Artist: Vasnetsov, Viktor Mikhaylovich (1848-1926)
In skomorokh dress, 1882. Found in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Harlequin and Death, 1918. Artist: Somov, Konstantin Andreyevich (1869-1939)
Harlequin and Death, 1918. From a private collection

Harlequins, 1913. Artist: Somov, Konstantin Andreyevich (1869-1939)
Harlequins, 1913. Found in the collection of the Regional Art Museum, Gorlovka

Rendezvous, c. 1918. Artist: Somov, Konstantin Andreyevich (1869-1939)
Rendezvous, c. 1918. From a private collection

Masquerade, 1913-1914. Artist: Grigoriev, Boris Dmitryevich (1886-1939)
Masquerade, 1913-1914. Found in the collection of the Regional Art Museum, Kherson

Jean-Gaspard Deburau as Pierrot, 1845. Artist: Bouquet, Auguste (1810-1846)
Jean-Gaspard Deburau as Pierrot, 1845. From a private collection

Carnival in Rome (Detail), c. 1650. Artist: Lingelbach, Johannes (1622-1674)
Carnival in Rome (Detail), c. 1650. Found in the collection of the Art History Museum, Vienne

Pierrot Content, ca 1712. Artist: Watteau, Jean Antoine (1684-1721)
Pierrot Content, ca 1712. Found in the collection of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collections

The skomorokhs. Costume design for the opera Prince Igor by A. Borodin, 1914. Artist: Roerich, Nicholas (1874-1947)
The skomorokhs. Costume design for the opera Prince Igor by A. Borodin, 1914. Found in the collection of the State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg

King And Jester, Early 15Th Century. From The Book Short History Of The English People By J. R
King And Jester, Early 15Th Century. From The Book Short History Of The English People By J.R. Green, Published London 1893

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Wit Cracker: Unmasking the Playful Paradox of Harlequin and Death" Step into a world where laughter dances with darkness, as portrayed in Konstantin Andreyevich Somov's captivating artwork "Harlequin and Death, 1907. " This mesmerizing piece captures the essence – a concept that defies expectations. In the 1740s, Carlo Antonio Bertinazzi's enigmatic portrait adds another layer to this enigma. With his masked ball attire, he invites us to explore the hidden depths behind every facade. Jean-Gaspard Deburau's portrait from 1832 further unravels the mystery. As Trouvé masterfully depicts him, we witness a glimpse into Deburau's soul as he embodies Mezzetin through dance. The anonymous creator of "Dancing Mezzetin" transports us back to the early 18th century, where jesters entertained with their nimble steps. Fast forward to 1921 at Theatre National de l'Opera's grand bal de la Mi-Careme – an event brimming with theatricality and revelry. Here, wit crackles in every corner as attendees immerse themselves in vibrant costumes and elaborate masks. The spirit of mummers comes alive through Leonid Ivanovich Solomatkin's masterpiece from 1873. Nikolai Nikolayevich Sapunov continues this tradition in his whimsical depiction from 1908. These artworks remind us that beneath playful disguises lies profound wisdom waiting to be discovered. Adriaen Pietersz van de Venne takes us even further back in time with his carnival procession painting from c. 1660. Amidst joyous chaos and merriment, we find ourselves pondering life’s paradoxes once more. A fool adorned with a parrot by an unknown artist in 1875 evokes both amusement and contemplation.