Two Clown Heads (or 'The Sad and Happy Clowns')
Painting on canvas or masonite panel • Modernist School, possibly an amateur or semi-professional follower of the mid-century European 'clown' genre (e.g., in the manner of Bernard Buffet or Gaston Hoffmann, but with more aggressive texture).
Style & Movement
Modernist Expressionism / Mid-Century Fauvism
Medium & Technique
Oil or heavy-bodied acrylic with extreme impasto technique. The artist utilized a palette knife or heavy troweling to create a sculptural, stucco-like texture, with dry-brushing on top of the ridges.
Creation Period
Mid-20th Century, circa 1950s–1970s
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 16 x 20 inches in a landscape orientation, set within a tiered wooden frame.
Subject Description
A dual portrait featuring two clown-like figures. The left figure (the 'Auguste') is rendered in warm, reddish-brown tones with a downturned, exaggerated white mouth and spectacles, conveying melancholy. The right figure (the 'Pierrot' or 'Whiteface') is rendered in cool blue/grey tones with high-set eyes and a slight smile. The heavy texture suggests a dissolution of form and emotional weight.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good. While the heavy impasto is intact, there is notable surface grime and potential embrittlement of the paint film.
Estimated Market Value
$150 - $450 USD
Auction Estimate
$100 - $300 USD
Provenance History
Unknown; likely an estate-sourced piece or a mid-century gallery item based on the period-accurate frame. No visible signatures or labels are present on the face.
Art Historical Significance
The artwork reflects the mid-century fascination with the clown as a symbol of the human condition and the 'dual nature' of man (sad/happy). It is an example of the 'Matter Painting' movement where the physical substance of the medium is as important as the subject matter.
Notable Features
The most striking feature is the extreme textural relief, where the paint stands off the surface significantly, creating physical shadows that change based on ambient lighting.
Condition Issues
Visible surface dust accumulation within the deep impasto ridges; minor paint loss/flaking on the left figure's forehead; craquelure likely hidden by the thickness of the paint; yellowing of the underlying surface.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning with a soft brush and vacuum to remove dust; consolidate any loose paint flakes; reframing or cleaning of the existing wooden frame to remove acid residues.