The Circus c. 1950 - 1952

Paul A. Feldhaus made this print, called The Circus, at an unknown date, using what looks like etching or engraving techniques to create a monochromatic image full of life and movement. I can almost imagine Feldhaus bent over his plate, scratching away at the surface, building up the image line by line. Look at the way he’s captured the chaotic energy of the circus, the crowds jostling for position, the tents and flags flapping in the breeze. There’s a real sense of atmosphere here, a feeling of excitement and anticipation. And above it all, those huge, luminous ferris wheels looming in the background, like otherworldly beacons. It reminds me of some of the darker, more surreal etchings of Goya, that feeling of being caught up in something bigger than yourself, something both thrilling and a little bit unsettling. Feldhaus invites us to enter this world, to experience its strange magic for ourselves.