Duel After a Masquerade Ball

Duel After a Masquerade Ball

The Duel After a Masquerade Ball was painted by Jean-Léon Gérôme in 1857. He produced this painting in a style known as Academicism and worked in oil on canvas. The painting depicts a duel after a costume ball in Bois de Boulogne, Paris. The literal objects in the painting are mainly the men in their costumes and their weapons.  However the wilderness, trees and snow surrounding them are also a big part of the painting as it sets the scene. It is dawn on a wintry day in the Bois de Boulogne Wintry day which gives a sense of a bitter atmosphere and could be pathetic fallacy for the characters as it represents the patriot being cold and lifeless.

The background of the scene is simple and faded bringing the characters at the front into the main focus.  Gérôme also uses less texture as it gets further back which exaggerates the distance. For example he uses lots of texture and detail in their costumes and simplifies the detail around them. The characters are dressed up in a variety of costumes; they have different colours and patterns. The effect of this is that it makes the painting stand out and more exciting to look at as they are all individual. Their costumes mean they all represent something different and I believe that the white represents innocence, the red danger and the black symbolizes death. The Pierrot is in white and has blood stains on him which could magnify the loss of innocence as he has witnessed this dual and the end of his life. Gérôme has also placed the white next to black which is a contrast and makes the Pierrot stand out. The people in the background are in shades of dull murky brown and fade into the background. They are part of the painting but don’t detract attention from the main characters. The colours graduate into duller colours as it gets further back to look further away and flow together.

At first glance I feel the painting is open for a lot of interpretation seeing as the people surrounding him could be protecting him from something which has already hurt him or they could be the attackers. I feel that they are helping him from the way they are holding him up while he is vulnerable and weak slanting to the ground. In closer inspection the Pierrot succumbs in the arms of the Duc de Guise. A Venetian doge examines Pierrot's wound while Domino clasps his head in despair. To the right, the victorious American Indian departs, accompanied by Harlequin.

There is lots of space in the landscape image as everything figure is spread out. This makes the characters seem isolated and the main attention is on the front characters.  Yet there is a sword at the very front of the painting highlighting the theme of death. In each part of the painting there is something going on, which makes it a very interesting piece to look at. There is the unity of the sword and clothing while everything else is in pairs this could represent a lost life with their valuables missing.

The range of Jean-Léon Gérôme oeuvre included historical painting, Greek mythology, Orientalism, portraits and other subjects, bringing the Academic painting tradition to an artistic climax. I feel there are many interpretations you can get from his painting and maybe this is purposely meant by him as he wants an intrigued curious response from the audience. I believe that the artist portrayed these individuals in costume so it

is a mystery as to who they are and why they are in rivalry against one another. It makes it more interesting when they are in masquerade as it seems almost fictional and is a story within a story. When I look at the image I am intrigued as I want to know what made this duel happen in the first place as the painting focuses on the finished dual rather than the start. In the painting Gérôme replicates, with slight variations, a composition he had executed for the Duc d'Aumale in 1857. It suggests that he has strong feelings towards this event and is trying to get his message across that the event shouldn’t have happened.

I really like this artwork because it has significant meaning and it is based on history and focusing on life and death.  I feel it is a brilliant piece of artwork seeing as it is painted by French painter who is considered one of the most important painters from this academic period and this adds artistic value to the work. The painting requires a high level of skill to produce such a detailed piece of work with so much meaning and history involved and I can see this piece being displayed in a Museum. This is not a painting I find pleasing to look at as it is quite depressing and very traditional where I prefer more modern works of art but I admire it and appreciate how well thought out and painted it is.