Link to the contest:https://steemit.com/hive-108800/@solperez/concurso-de-arte-y-escritura-129-y-ganadores-de-la-edicion-128-art-and-writing-contest-129-y-ganadores-de-la-edicion-128

I chose this painting because I was fascinated by the card motif. I must admit that my first association was "Alice in Wonderland", where animated cards served as the Queen of Hearts' guards. In cartomancy, or fortune-telling with cards, each suit has an assigned meaning. Hearts symbolize love, feelings, and emotions. These are themes that Gerda Wegener explored in her works. In "Carnival", the woman in the foreground, wearing a heart-patterned dress, clearly alludes to this—not just through the dress, but also her corset and hairstyle. Perhaps this woman is exploring her sexuality and sensuality.

An additional element that supports this interpretation is the fact that the woman is dancing. Through movement, one can also express feelings and emotions. However, her partner concerns me. A key element of his outfit is the black diamonds, which are originally red. Diamonds symbolize wealth and material success. They relate to ambition and material matters. Perhaps the change in their color does not bode well. Could it suggest that the man has bad intentions toward her? Is he trying to deceive her? Rob her of her money?

In the background, we see another woman with a meaningful gaze, wearing a headpiece adorned with dark diamonds, which also deviate from the original. Could this be part of a conspiracy? What further strengthens my theory is that all of this is happening during a carnival celebration, where people wear masks—both literally and metaphorically. This is similar to a deck of cards: every card looks the same on one side, but only when we see the other side do we discover its true value.

Invitations to @mirapaddy @putrisavara