The Purpose of Carnival Masks
Carnival is a time of indulging and revelry celebrated the week before Lent, usually in areas of high Roman Catholic population and most famously in Venice. For centuries, masquerade has been part of the celebrations, and the carnival mask historically served many purposes for the carnival-goers of Venice.
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Masks as a Disguise
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The earliest recorded use of masks at carnival is from 1268, a prohibition on the throwing of scented eggs at carnival-goers by masked men. This example of masks as an aid to trouble-making and law-breaking is appropriate. Venice was fairly corrupt at the time, and masks provided wrong-doers with the ability to avoid recognition,such as gamblers avoiding their creditors at casinos, or to change their identity altogether, such as the men who dressed as women in order to sneak into convents.
Masks as a Public Face
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It was easy for law-breakers to slip by under the radar because the use of masks was so prevalent. The upper class wore masks year-round when attending all types of functions. A string of laws limiting mask-wearing culminated in a decree in 1608, which made it illegal for anyone to wear a mask outside of carnival or official banquets. Masks did serve some "legitimate" services, as was illustrated by a act in 1776 that forbid women to go to the theater unmasked--an attempt to preserve "family honor" from the scandalous nature of theater.
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Masks as Characters
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Borrowing from the theater, and specifically from the street theatrics of the Commedia Dell'arte, masks were sometimes fashioned to be particular characters. Some of these came directly from the Commedia Dell'arte, such as Scaramuccia, a swordsman, or Pulcinella, the Italian forerunner to England's Punch of Punch and Judy. Others were more generic characters, such as a demon, a fisherman or royalty.
Masks as Art
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The mascheri (mask-makers) had their own guild in Venice from 1436 onward. While some masks were character designs, and others, such as the Bauta (a plain white face) and the Moretta (a black velvet oval), were standard designs worn by many, some masks were unique. Masks could boast feathers, beads and a whole range of glossy or shimmering paint. After the Carnival died out under Austrian rule, and then was banned by Mussolini, it was brought back to life by local artisans. The artistry of carnival masks, both historical and current, can be breathtaking.
Escape from Identity
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Whatever the distinct purpose a carnival-goer had for donning a mask, all were essentially looking for the same thing. They were all hiding their faces, the most obvious and recognizable marking of their identity. Whether a commoner seeking to party above station, a nobleman wishing to forget the rigidity of his class, a public figure looking for anonymity or perhaps someone simply trying to live another life for short while, all those in masks were allowed a chance to create themselves anew.
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