The Insane Clown
Signed Print

The Insane Clown is a recent etching by the artist George Condo. It seemingly depicts three figures that are all, in unison, glancing at the same subject. The three figures occupy the centre and the foreground of the composition. The background is comprised of a wavy lines and dots that seemingly emanate from a point behind the head of one of the figures. The composition is busy. The three figures are particularly expressive. The character in the bottom right, with their mouth open, looks almost as though they are shouting. The other two, though less active, have extremely expressive faces.

The work may be compared to Condos’s wider oeuvre. For instance, The Insane Clown fits within other works that explore the clown theme. His Laughing Clown Composition etching is particularly similar. The composition is not too crowded however the characters maintain a sense of character that is particularly distinct. Though Condo’s etchings occupy only part of his oeuvre, drawing comparisons between them helps to highlight his interest in the grotesque. This preoccupation is certainly present in The Insane Clown: the title and manner of the painting alike indicate this.