7Masks Were Once Tools for Crime and Deception
Venetian masks were not only worn for celebration—they were instruments of anonymity. During Carnival season, masks allowed people to move freely across social classes, genders, and moral boundaries. This freedom had consequences.
Masked figures could gamble illegally, engage in secret affairs, spy on rivals, or commit crimes without fear of recognition. Authorities frequently complained that Carnival masks made it impossible to maintain order. In fact, masks became so problematic that Venice eventually introduced laws restricting when and where they could be worn.
What we now see as playful accessories once symbolized unchecked freedom—and potential danger.
