Crying Clown (1940)
Technique: Giclée quality print
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More about this artwork
"Crying Clown," painted by Slovak artist Cyprián Majerník in 1940, is a striking oil on canvas that captures the poignant dualism of a clown's existence. In this arresting piece, the subject's face occupies the majority of the canvas, confronting the viewer with the intimate and conflicted emotions of the clown.Majerník’s style is marked by the use of thick, expressive brushstrokes and a warm yet subdued palette, predominantly consisting of browns, ochres, and olive greens, which serves to deepen the impact of the depicted sentiment. The clown, often a figure of joy and jest in popular culture, is re-envisioned through Majerník's lens as a figure of profound isolation and hidden sorrow.The artwork compels us to confront the paradox of the clown's role—meant to entertain and bring laughter while potentially masking deep personal despair. The exaggerated features of the clown, such as the large twisted nose and drooping eyes, highlighted with dark and light contrasts, further enhance the depth of emotion and intricacy of the character's psychological landscape.