The theatrical harlequin character - an astute servant & nimble trickster - first appeared in Italy in the late 1500s. He's believed to have originated from a devil figure in French medieval mystery plays. This figure, in turn, was based on a folkloric demon, known as Hellequin, that scoured the countryside searching for damned souls to chase to hell. Devils often have trickster-like attributes in European folklore. This painting of a harlequin, from 1890, is by Paul Cezanne. #FairytaleTuesday #folklore #theatre #history #mythology #weird #gothic #art #arthistory #painting