"Age of Chivalry" Circus Wagon c. 1938

Howard Weld made this watercolor painting of an "Age of Chivalry" circus wagon sometime in the 20th century. The circus, a form of mass entertainment that boomed in the United States, was a highly stratified world. Here, the title ‘Age of Chivalry’ evokes a romanticized past of knights and dragons, of bravery and fair play, and yet this parade wagon, with all its visual spectacle, was part of a business enterprise. The visual codes used here draw on medieval romances, but these were deployed within the very modern context of a traveling circus, an institution with its own hierarchy, labor practices, and, sadly, the exploitation of both humans and animals. To truly understand this image, one needs to delve into the cultural history of the circus, the changing perceptions of the Middle Ages, and the socio-economic factors that shaped popular entertainment in America. By exploring these diverse sources, we can better appreciate how art, even in its most commercial forms, reflects and shapes our understanding of society.