Who painted The Masked Ball?

The Masked Ball was painted by Paul Gavarni in 1835.

Where can I see The Masked Ball?

The Masked Ball is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Masked Ball?

The Masked Ball is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

The Masked Ball

Paul Gavarni , 1835

The Masked Ball is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Paul Gavarni. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Paul Gavarni’s lithograph *The Masked Ball* (1835) presents a bustling ballroom scene in which masked participants mingle beneath gas‑lit illumination. The composition foregrounds a mixture of elegantly dressed women and formally attired men, their concealed faces suggesting both festivity and anonymity.

Subject & Meaning

The image records a typical Parisian masked soirée of the early nineteenth century, highlighting contemporary dress, etiquette, and the social ritual of concealment. By portraying a crowd engaged in conversation and dance, Gavarni offers a glimpse into the performative aspects of public leisure and the subtle tension between visibility and disguise.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the work demonstrates Gavarni’s skill in rendering fine line work and tonal variation within a single stone matrix. The artist’s characteristic caricatural observation appears in the exaggerated postures and stylized attire, while the overall layout balances detailed crowd rendering with broader atmospheric shading.

History & Provenance

Created under Gavarni’s pseudonym—Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier’s chosen artistic name—the print was part of a series of illustrations that documented Parisian life. It circulated among the burgeoning market for affordable prints, contributing to the visual record of the city’s social scenes during the July Monarchy.