The Clown[1] is a half-length portrait by American artist George Condo, painted in oil on linen.

[2] In 2014, the Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) in Rochester, New York added this piece to its permanent collection, made possible by the Marion Stratton Gould Fund.

[2] In conversation, Condo has likened this painting to “an insane Benjamin Franklin” and considered it to be the most pathetic self-portrait he could imagine.

The painting uses mainly neutral colors in the face, with the polka dots and background using playful, but desaturated hues.

[3] His works are a combination of classical European techniques and American pop culture, where his realistic portraits have exaggerated, cartoon-ish features to them.

Their expressive faces often resonate deeply with viewers, as Condo paints them with empathy, instead of mockery and ridicule.

[10] This prompts viewers to reconsider the clown as a figure worthy of deeper reflection beyond its traditional role in entertainment, but also where its value lies in contemporary art.

[12] However, even though Condo has had a long-established career, the placement of his surreal clown alongside Old Master paintings challenged other visitors' preconceived ideas about artistic taste and skills.