The image of the clown in expressionist painting
Date
1981
Authors
Stubbs, Sally
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Abstract
Epigraph: "As old as recorded history, found among primitive tribes and in sophisticated societies, the clown has always been a profound emblem to men of their own condition . . . The clown is of interest because he proposes profound problems about ourselves and about the very nature of reality. At first , he seems merely a creature of the stage, hired to amuse us, separated safely from us by the footlights of the frame; then suddenly the frame has disappeared and he is us, or we are he."
Throughout history the clown has amused, saddened, and consistently intrigued mankind . This fascination extended, naturally, to many artists who derive d inspiration from these buffoons whose ridiculous, incongruously wily, and/or pathetic antics so aptly paralleled those of humanity. This figure was often portrayed in its element the Commedia, the streets, the music halls, and the circus, but Antoine Watteau (1684- 1721) was the first to make consistent use of the image in an expressive context; Watteau discerned and developed the tragic potential of a particular clown--Pierrot--to convey unique and personal concerns. Later artists, e.g., Honoré Daumier (1808-1879) and Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) realized the expressive possibilities inherent in the clown and adopted it as a symbol of personal beliefs, desires, and fears; social commentary; and humanistic philosophy.
With the advent of expressionism as a dominant artistic force in the early twentieth century the clown, among other images, e.g., the mask, attained increased popularity and, thus, relevance as a symbol indicative of humanity--its foibles, frailties, and potential. Georges Rouault. (1871-1957), Max Beckmann (1884-1950), and Abraham Rattner (1895-1978), the expressionist masters examined in this thesis, each produced several fascinating clown studies. In these images, often characterized by complex and enigmatic iconography, the artists have illustrated concerns which, while often highly personal, extend easily, and apparently intentionally, to encompass actions, situations, relationships, and sentiments relevant to all humanity.