Clown 1934

This quiet painting of a clown was made by Mikuláš Galanda, though we don’t know exactly when. The ochre background seems to emerge from the surface, as though the figure of the clown is trying to rise up from the earth. I really love the ruff, that ring of pink frills, like he's wearing a kind of Elizabethan collar, it's so charming. I imagine Galanda applying layer after layer of paint, building up the surface to create this melancholic figure. The clown is composed with gentle strokes of white and cream, save for the pop of bright red on the lips. He seems to be gazing inward, his hands clasped tightly together, as if he is holding onto something precious or trying to comfort himself. I can imagine Galanda meditating on the duality of the clown, the mask and the emotions that might be hidden underneath. There is a deep sense of humanity in Galanda’s work. The painting feels like a conversation, and I feel invited to participate.