Self-portrait 

Armand Henrion painted this self-portrait with oil on canvas in Belgium in the early 20th century. Henrion’s clown persona allows the artist to explore the relationship between outer appearance and inner emotion. The exaggerated makeup and costume are visual codes that tell the viewer the subject is a clown, while the raw emotion exposes a more complex inner life. In a society marked by rigid social hierarchies, the figure of the clown, often marginalized, was used to critique the institutions of power. Artists would often use clowning to reflect on the absurdity of modern life. Henrion’s self-portrait taps into this history, inviting viewers to consider the artist’s own position within the art world. To fully appreciate this piece, we need to consult the historical record; memoirs, letters, and exhibition reviews that shed light on the artist’s life, and on the cultural and institutional contexts that shaped his artistic vision.