Medium : pencil on paper 60X40cm

 Artist : Tiko Sanikidze 

The drawing "Incognito" was created when I was traveling in Italy. I returned from that country full of impressions. Venice and its world-known carnival, associated with famous masks made a particular impression on me. There is a great and interesting story behind the wearing of masks. As I was told there, people of the city believed that death would not “visit” them, while being unable to see their faces. That is why the mask for the Venetians became an attribute not only for the carnival but for daily use. This was also caused due to the fact that Venice was not a big city and a large part of its population knew each other. Masks have become the best means of hiding their activities. Over time, the massive wearing of masks led to increased crime, which is why later on, people were allowed to wear them only on certain occasions. One of those days was Carnival. Venice Carnival still enjoys popularity - millions of tourists go to Venice just for attending this event. They're all people are dressed in special costumes and famous Venetian masks. These masks are famous all over the world for their beauty and exquisiteness. That's why I created this painting, which all the time reminds me of the unforgettable Venice and its mysterious carnival.