Some Clowns 1930

Laura Knight created this monochromatic etching, titled 'Some Clowns'. It's a real who's who of clown faces, a veritable study in expression and costume. I can only imagine her, among the greasepaint and bright colours, zeroing in on these performers, trying to capture that fleeting moment of backstage stillness. There’s a real tension between the careful detail in the faces and costumes, versus the loose cross-hatched lines forming the background. Look at the clown in the centre, with the peculiar hat – notice the cross hatching used to construct the fabric of his jacket. It gives a sense of the folds and textures of the material! Knight invites us to consider the quiet moments behind the performance. Her work reminds me of Degas, observing the dancers backstage. It's like she's part of this ongoing conversation about how we see and represent each other.