Mixed media laid on canvas

Signed and dated upper right

His expression seems filled with sadness, and his gaze drifts off into the distance. His blue eyes echo the background of the painting, while his face, entirely painted white, matches the color of his pointed hat. This figure—the white clown—is an iconic character in the circus world, and one of its oldest. Commanding the ring, he embodies seriousness and dignity, yet harbors a mischievous and comic spirit. Still, he is constantly unsettled by the antics of the red clown, the auguste, who disrupts his efforts to maintain order. His appearance, both solemn and theatrical, evokes Pierrot—a melancholic character, heartbroken by his unrequited love for Colombine, who favors Harlequin instead. Beneath the makeup and the jokes lies a deep sense of melancholy. This contrast between the mask and inner truth is a recurring theme in Bernard Buffet’s work. A painter of existential angst and stark realities, Buffet portrayed the world with emotional intensity. Fascinated by grand performances, he sought to reveal what lies behind the curtain: the true essence of his characters. From the appearance of clowns in his art starting in 1955, through to the end of his career—including the publication of Mon Cirque in 1968, featuring forty-four lithographs created with Fernand Mourlot—this theme was met with great public enthusiasm. Audiences were drawn to the duality between cheerful appearance and quiet sorrow, emphasized by precise lines and stylized faces set against vibrant backgrounds.