Pulcinella 普欽內拉 プルチネッラ

Pulcinella is a classical character that originated in commedia dell'arte of the 17th century and became a stock character in Neapolitan puppetry. Pulcinella's versatility in status and attitude has captivated audiences worldwide and kept the character popular in countless forms since his introduction to commedia dell'arte by Silvio Fiorillo in 1620.

Pulcinella represents a character who has acquired all the symbols and meanings of the popular and peasant world and has brought to all the scenes of Italian theaters, and beyond, a repertoire full of movements, gestures, acrobatics, typical dances and rituals of the Neapolitan gestural code. In fact, they accompany him on the theater and carnival scenes: the broom, the horn, the cowbells, elements that for the Neapolitans have propitiatory and antidote value against the evil eye and the bad luck.

His visual appearance includes a humpback, a crooked nose, gangly legs, a potbelly, large cheeks, and a gigantic mouth. These traits were inherited from two stock characters of the Atellan Farce. He typically wears a pointed hat (conical hat). When depicted as a member of the upper class, Pulcinella is a cunning thief and schemer. When depicted as a member of the servant class, Pulcinella is a perverted bumpkin. In either case, he is a social climber, striving to rise above his station in life. He is an opportunist who always sides with the winner in any situation and who fears no consequences. His main motivations are self-interest and self-preservation, yet Pulcinella tends to rescue other characters from trouble. He is said to be every character's savior, despite acting as a rebel and a delinquent.

He's a symbol of the common people and a figure who rebels against oppression.

Pulcinella is most often portrayed in a white ensemble consisting of wide-legged trousers and a long-sleeved, loose-fitting blouse with buttons down the front. The outfit is completed by a belt that cinches below the waist, giving Pulcinella a place to hold props while emphasizing his pot belly. A white hat is always worn, typically either a skull cap, a hat with turn-up brim, a soft conical hat whose point lies down, or a  rigid sugar-loaf hat. The sugar-loaf hat gained popularity in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

Traditionally made of leather, Pulcinella's mask is either black or dark brown, to imply weathering from the sun. His nose varies in shape, but it is always the most prominent feature of the mask. It can be long and curved, hooking over the mouth, or it can be shorter with a more bulbous bridge. Either way, the nose is designed to resemble a bird's beak. There is often a wart somewhere on the mask, typically on the forehead or nose. Furrowed eyebrows and deep wrinkles are also important, although there is room for artistic interpretation.

Pulcinella, a well-known character from the Neapolitan tradition, is frequently associated with the tambourine. The tambourine is a key instrument in Neapolitan folk music, particularly used to accompany the tarantella, a lively Italian folk dance. 

While Pulcinella isn't directly associated with a specific chili dish, his connection to Neapolitan culture and the region's cuisine can lead to interpretations where chili peppers are seen as a part of his "world".

Pulcinella is a common theme at the Venice Carnevale.

My Italian friend Teo Americola did a slight variation for his classic Pulcinella costume this year, the mask is actually painted onto his face. Teo is always one of my favourite models at the Venice Carnevale. His costumes are always a classic and very easy to photograph.