The Italian Comedians

The actors represent familiar commedia dell'arte roles. Pierrot's near stillness stands out among his gesturing companions. Watteau repeatedly returned to theater, where costume defined behavior and character. The group brings staged roles together with the distinct presence of individual performers.

Pierrot stands at the center in white. His nearly still frontal figure stands out among the turned bodies around him.

An actor in gold gestures toward him. One performer's action directs attention toward another.

A dark, masklike face peers above the musician's hat. Overlapping forms make the theatrical group more compact.

A seated musician holds a lute across his lap. The instrument connects the actors' poses with the performance's musical element.

A red curtain frames the scene. Its heavy fabric establishes a space intended for performance.

Watteau painted both actors and elegantly dressed gatherings in landscapes. In each, costume and gesture organized relations among figures. Here familiar theatrical roles allow different ways of appearing before an audience to be compared.