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Head of a Clown

© estate of Edwin George Lucas. Image credit: National Galleries of Scotland

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This unusual painting shows Lucas’s interest in Cubism and Surrealism. The flat, linear forms in the background resemble work by Dalí, whilst the exploration of facial structure Picasso. There appears to be a dichotomy at play between the manner in which the background has been painted and that of the clown’s head. The strong pastel lines of the figure stand out from the muted tones behind. The background appears to show part of the structure of a circus ‘big top’, whilst the shapes at the left, although initially appearing abstract also seem to resemble a clown’s smiling face, with blue eye and turquoise eyebrow. It is a complex image that reflects the experimentation that Lucas was able to enjoy as an amateur painter.

National Galleries of Scotland: Modern

Title

Head of a Clown

Date

1947

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 70.3 x W 54.8 cm

Accession number

GMA 5375

Acquisition method

purchased, 2013

Work type

Painting

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National Galleries of Scotland: Modern

75 Belford Road, Edinburgh EH4 3DR Scotland

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