Page 6 University Daily Kansan, February 19, 1981
Carnival life captured by Gavarni
By SHAWN McKAY
Entertainment Editor
The weeks before Lent have traditionally been ones of celebration—the last moments to indulge in the pleasures soon to be abonded in the rememberance of the sacrifices made by Christ.
The 19th century French culture revealed in pre-Lenten celebration. The last moments of merymaking stretch from the curried chicken appetizers to the patrons' insatiable appetites for pleasure.
Capturing the vicarious nature of the carnival was Gulpime-Sulle Chevaliev. Known to the art world as Gavari, he made hundreds of lithographs depicting the carnival revelers. Fifty-two of his works are featured in the Holte Kerosen Spencer Museum of Art.
On loan from the Yale University Art Gallery are some of Gavarni's most popular works of the period. Combining his knowledge of lithography and a passionate interest in theatre and costume, he rose to acclaim in the literary and artistic circles of his day.
Popular in Roman Catholic countries in the time before Lent, the carnival intrigued Garvarni and other artists of the period. While its origins are obscure, it is thought to be a vestige from the Christian civilization of the ancient Roman Saturnalia.
GAVARNIS CARNIVAL world began at Epiphany (Jan. 6) and reached its apogee during Shrovetide, the three days preceding Ash Wednesday. The days were given to loud and colorful festivities, as people roared the streets making a party wherever willing participants were found. The streets of Paris were alive with carriages, maskers and spectators, with excitement pivoting on the approaching evening celebration.
At sunset, the carnival moved indoors to elaborate costume balls held throughout the city. Although they had been popular in France since the 15th century, the balls had unprecedented popularity under the patronage of the Duchess de Berry.
The merrymaking depicted by Gavarni was
of the evening. The masked faces and gar-
dian customers conceptualized the artist's early involu-
rence.
The balls began at midnight and lasted until 5 a.m. The contours ranged from the traditional Harlequin, Polichinelle, Pierrot and the cone-shaped Polychinelle. And the unusual costumes designed by the wearers.
Gavarni designed a number of costumes for the carnival circuit, including the tremendously popular Debardeur, based on the working clothes of the stevedore or longhoseman.
A massive celebration can be seen in the works of Gavarni. The flourishes of costumes did not disguise the intriguing personalities of the party goers. All but one of his works are of a small group of people, isolated from the crowd, engaging in conservation or pursuing the very popular art of seduction. And with the pursuit came brief passionate interludes and moments of disappointment as a masked beauty succumbed to the charms of another character.
THE BALLS, in many instances, were only vehicles to the main amusement—the ongoing search for the clandestine meeting of two disused lovers.
But as the evening drew to an end, dawn brought a harsh reality. Descriptions from the period report the financial costs of attending the carnival. Many were left borrowing money and having their creditors, and some saw their issue, costumes sold to merchants of used clothing.
Gavarri was more than just an observer of this harmless reality. After leaving a masquerade one morning in 1835, he was seized by his creditors and forced to pay them for the murder. Clicky, and he remanded there for about a month.
Like his contemporary, Daumier, Gavarri was praised for his vivid representation of the Paris mode of living manners. The flirtatious drop of a man's hair and the mask became subjects for the artist's prints.
A note exchanged with the promise of a passionate embrace and the last few strangers, as their nodding heads paid homage to the sculptor, in warmth and warmth to moments rendered by the artist.
On Campus
A STUDENT VOICE RECITAL by Karl Bricker will be at 8 p.m. in Swarthout Recital
TODAY
THE ACADEMIC COMPUTER CENTER (ACC) will present a seminar on "Introduction to BMPD" at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Computer Services Facility.
Computer ServICES family.
THE GAY AND LEBSIAN SERVICES OF KANSAS will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the International Room of the Kansas Union.
LATIN AMERICAN SOLIDARITY will spon-
sorb a victim or death, at a 3:30 p.m. in
the Pavilion Row. (800) 526-7411.
KUNPE ENGINEERING ORGANIZATION will meet t:30 p.m. in 2002 Learned Hall.
THE LIFE-ISSUE SEMINAR ON SPIRITUAL
BALANCE at the University of
Boston's Christian Ministry Center.
THE DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CLUB WILL MEET AT 7 p.m. in the Trail Room of the Union.
THE KU GERMAN CLUB will meet at 4:30 p.m. in 4085 Wescoe Hall to finish planning the
LA MESA ESPANOLA (SPANISH TABLE)
will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 13:00 p.m. in 3069 Wescoe Hall. All native speakers and Spanish students are welcome.
THE STUDENT BAR ASSOCIATION NOON FORUM will present "Alternatives to Traditional Legal Practice—The Public Interest Law" in 104 Green Hall.
THE KU STATISTICS COMMITTEE UNIVERSITY LECTURE will present Frederick Monsterler on "Statistics in Regulation: A Case of University" at 3:30 p.m. in the Forum Room of the Room of U.
THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH PANEL AND DRAMATIC PRESENTATION on "Langston Hughes: Black Genius" will be at 7 p.m. in the Spencer Library.
"THE ADMIRABLE CRICHTON" by James Barrie will be performed at 8 p.m. in the University Theatre. Students with KU IDs will be admitted free.
Lithograph by Cavarni, 1847
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Thursday, Feb. 19
The Spirit of the Beehive
Ana Toreni (Cria) stars as a small child retreating into a fantasy world in this darkly whimsical mood place, directed by Victor Erice. "Perhaps one of the two dozen best pictures made anywhere in the past" describes the film (85 min.) Color, Spanish/subtitles, 7:30.
Friday, Feb. 20
The Black Stallion
Carroll Balland's directorial debut is an extraordinary adaptation of Walter Farley's novel about a boy and a horse. The story is filled with growth to trust and love each other; when rescued the boy and the old horse learn to ride and race, and ... the rare film that can completely captivate an audience, a stuntman in his own right, Kali Reny, Mickey Reno, Tent Gar, and Clerence Muse. Plus: "Gerald McBoing Beoum." (1187 m/3 ft). Color: 3:30.
Unless otherwise noted, all till bills will be shown. Woodland Cafe is $100. Friday, Saturday, Popular and Sunday tickets are $200. 100-ticket vouchers are $200. Tickets available at usunion.com/sas union 4th level. Information 884-3477. No smoking or refreshments ^^
Patronize Kansan Advertisers
GIANT WEEKEND SALE
HURRY—SALE ENDS SAT.
THURS. FRI. SAT.
10 A.M. 10 A.M. 10 A.M.
to B-30 P.M. to 6 P.M. to 6 P.M.