Masks have been an important part of the carnival in Venice since it was first recorded in 1268, allowing people to move around the city in disguise. Some people took advantage of the ability to hide their identity to commit crimes, leading the Venetian government to ban them throughout much of the year.
Traditional Venetian masks were made with papier-mache, but they can also be made using leather. The masks are generally painted but can also be decorated with jewels and feathers.
Many of the masks seen in 2010 draw on the 16th-century tradition of "Commedia dell'Arte," a type of improvised theater. These include the long-beaked "Capitan Scaramouche" character and the blank expression of "Pierrot." The most popular mask is the "bauta," which covers much of the wearer's face and is traditionally worn with a "tricorno," a black, three corner hat, and a hood and cloak.
