El Clown Mexicano (Mexican Clown) 1942

This is a wood engraving, "El Clown Mexicano" (Mexican Clown), created by José Guadalupe Posada. The image features a clown in checkered attire, standing alongside an elephant. Here we observe a figure whose roots stretch back to the carnivals of the Middle Ages. The clown, traditionally a symbol of folly and revelry, often serves as a mirror reflecting society’s absurdities. Think of the Commedia dell’Arte, where Harlequin, with his checkered costume, danced and jested, challenging social norms. Here, the clown stands with an elephant, a creature often linked to royalty and exotic lands. The juxtaposition of the clown—a figure of ridicule—with the majestic elephant creates a strange duality. It reminds me of how archetypes linger in our collective memory. In more recent times, the figure of the clown has transformed and become more sinister. This shift may echo society's changing fears and anxieties. The clown, then, is an enduring symbol, continually reborn in new guises across time.