Black Clown 1974

Alexander Calder created this gouache drawing, titled *Black Clown*, later in his career, likely during the 1960s or 70s. Calder's style is characterized by simple lines and bold colors, creating a playful yet stark image of a figure under a curtain. Calder was born into a family of artists, and was keenly aware of his position within the art world. While Calder is known for his kinetic sculptures, this work allows us to consider his negotiation of representation, particularly concerning race and identity. The minstrel tradition in the United States is a difficult, racist history. The clown stands on a stage, a performer, made two dimensional by the constraints of a racist culture. The reduction to caricature asks us to consider the emotional labor demanded by performance, and the individual that is hidden behind the mask. Calder asks us to confront the stereotypes and assumptions we bring to the image of the clown, even as we grapple with its impact on cultural identity.