I was in Venice during carnival in February.
In Campiello San Rocco, I passed this charming window filled with masks. The door was cosed the first time I saw the shop, with a small handwritten sign saying: Out for lunch, soon back!
I decided to wait, and spent some time photographing the flowershop across the street. The soon back took some time, and I did a walk in the neighbourhood, but I didn't walk far, I was determined to have a look inside this small shop and workshop. And when I came back I was lucky. The door was open and inside I found Cueros, a woman from Argentina now working in Venice making traditional masks.
Masks have always fascinated me, the different styles and their different usage. How you can use a mask to cover a personality, or to create a quite new personality.
Every one is now in maschera, and one great convenience is, that if you fasten your mask on your hat you have the privilege of not taking of your hat when any one speaks to you; and you never address them by name, but always as "Servitore umilissimo, Signora Maschera! Cospetto de Bacco!" That is fun! From Carnevale, WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART, 1771
