Circus Wagon Monkey c. 1939

"Circus Wagon Monkey," a watercolor by American artist John Matulis (1910–2000), depicts a carved wooden monkey figure, likely from a circus wagon. Created circa 1939, the work captures the monkey in a standing pose, holding a staff wrapped with a serpent. Matulis’s precise and detailed style highlights the intricate carvings and the figure’s weathered surface, evoking the charm and nostalgia of vintage circus attractions.