Unmasking the History Venetian Masks

One place I had been wanting to visit while abroad was Venice, Italy. Despite the city being small, it is vibrant with its culture and history. There is also the fact that the city is slowly sinking, which added some extra motivation to visit now. Two weeks ago I was able to accomplish this goal traveling with Maya, Champe, Ben, Andy, Andrew, and Zach. 

Venice is known for many different things, the beautiful architecture, winding canals, gondola rides, and its markets filled with various handmade goods like glassware and masks. One of their most well known crafts is the Venetian mask. 

The history of these masks dates all the way back to sometime during the 12th century. They were extremely popular during the season of Carnival (starting the 26th of December and lasting all the way to the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, called Shrove Tuesday). This era was ruled by the aristocratic class, so by having the ability to hide your identity, people of all classes could indulge in the celebrations together. People could wear these masks during everyday life though it was not believed to be as popular until the 13th century due to regulations being declared prohibiting when people were allowed to wear the masks as well as what kinds of masks. This was due to the increase in criminal behavior as people had a lower chance of getting caught  due to their identities being protected so they would be able to avoid punishment.

As the masks became increasingly popular a new form of improv theater began in the 16th century called the Commedia dell’Arte or “Comedy of masks.” Its two most popular characters were the Harlequin (Arlecchino) and Zanni. They were known for their exaggerated moods, pantoming, and acrobatics. Performances would remain popular until the 18th when the Venetian Republic fell and the tradition of mask wearing and carnival celebrations were banned. 

It wasn’t until the 1970s when the rediscovery and revival of Venice’s carnival began that the celebration became inaugurated in 1979. Through the decades Venice’s carnival has become a major tourist attraction bringing in over 3 million people in its most recent years. This has provided the city with huge economic growth through increased tourism and the sale of goods like the masks. Many old masks become symbols of the Venetian carnival such as the comedy mask and even masks that were originally designed for practical use. A specific example of this is the plague doctor mask which was originally designed to help prevent doctors from getting sick but has since transformed into an icon of the Carnival. Even when it is not carnival season these mask remain for sal at all times of the year and you can see them all throughout the city 

So what did we do while we were there? Well, Ben, Andrew, Andy, Zach, and I decided to learn about the history of mask making and painting through personal experience!

One of the places that was part of this revival was Ca’Macana which has been in business since 1984. Starting out as a bunch of architecture students wishing to help revive the age-old tradition of making these masks by hand, has now flourished into one of Venice’s oldest and most popular mask shops. In addition to selling many different and unique masks, they host a variety of workshops ranging from painting pre-made masks or even making your own mask. Due to the short amount of time we had in Venice we opted to do the painting workshop. We got to pick from a variety of different masks and chose a painting style. Personally I went with a gradient style using a blue and green color scheme. After picking, they demonstrated the techniques for the specific style. Once the base of our masks were painted to our satisfaction the worker showed us how to do detailing on the mask, whether it is fine lines or dots. These small details really can enhance the mask.  We all had a great time being creative with the design and none of our masks were alike. Even when we had the same painting styles, the way we accomplished the style, use of different colors, and details made each mask unique. 

After the workshop we proudly put on the masks for Maya and Champe to see. 

The experience was so much fun and I would highly recommend it if you ever find yourself in Venice. It gives you a whole new appreciation for all the different masks that you see while walking throughout the city.

-Samantha

Sources

Ca’Macana. (n.d.). Learn how to make Venetian masks in Venice ABC kids workshop. https://www.camacana.com/en-UK/venice-with-kids-abc-course.php

Carnevale: All About Carnival in Venice (Venetian Masks & More!) – Walks of Italy. (2024, April 12). Walks Of Italy. https://www.walksofitaly.com/blog/things-to-do/carnevale-in-venice

The history behind Venetian masks – Venezia Maschere. (n.d.). Venetian Masks for Sale. https://www.veneziamaschere.com/the-history-behind-venetian-masks/

History of Venetian Masks. (n.d.). Images of Venice. https://imagesofvenice.com/history-of-venetian-masks/

Williamson, J., Williams, L., & Dauk, N. (2025, February 26). Everything you need to know about the Venice Carnival. Insight Vacations. https://www.insightvacations.com/blog/venice-carnival/