Joseph A. Pecsenke Commedia Dell'Arte etchings

Collection — Frame: 1-22

Identifier: RITArt-0082

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Joseph A. Pecsenke etchings consists of twenty-two prints:

Brigella, etching

Il Capitano, etching

Colombina, etching

Il Dettore, etching

Arlecchino, etching

Pantalone, etching

Arlecchino and Brighella, etching

The Duel, etching

On the fish market, etching

Pantalone serenading Colombina, etching

The Opening, etching

Untitled (Street Scene with silhouettes of clowns), etching

Untitled (Theatre scene with a gentlemen and women on stage surrounded by onlookers), etching

Untitled (Open air stage, one man on stage surrounded by onlookers. In background are performers and a tightrope walker), etching

Untitled (Group of performers relaxing), etching

The Camp, etching

The Birth of Harlequin, etching

Untitled (tightrope walker), etching

After the Performance, etching

Untitled (parade scene), etching

On the Road, etching

Untitled (lady with breast exposed), etching

Dates

Creation: circa 1950-1989

Creator

Pecsenke, Joseph (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Biographical / Historical

Joseph A. Pecsenke (1942-1989) was a native of Hungary who lived in New York. Pecsenke celebrated in his art his long-time experience in theatre as an actor and designer. His work includes etchings of Commedia Dell’Arte, Opera lithographs, and paintings inspired by the works of William Shakespeare. His work is in the public collections of the Metropolitan Opera, The Joffrey Ballet, The Folger Library, the New York Philharmonic, and Yale University. Commedia dell'Arte, also known as "Italian comedy," was a humorous theatrical presentation performed by professional players who traveled in troupes throughout Italy in the 16th century. Performances took place on temporary stages, mostly on city streets, but occasionally even in court venues. Music, dance, witty dialogue, and all kinds of chicanery contributed to the comic effects. Subsequently the art form spread throughout Europe, with many of its elements persisting into present-day theater.