Pasquale Iannetti Art Gallery

Original aquatint printed in colors on Japon paper with full margins. Initialled and dated in the plate lowerleft: "GR 1934." A fine impression of the definitive state from the edition of 215 on this paper (there were an additional 35 impressions on Japan paper and 30 designated hors commerce, for an overall edition of 280). One of 17 plates from the album Cirque de l'Etoile Filante, illustrated by Rouault. Published by Ambroise Vollard, Paris, 1938. Printed by Roger Lacouriere, Paris.

Image: 12 1/16" x 7 3/4"
Catalogue reference: Chapon/Rouault 254b

The circus was one of the most important themes in Rouault's work. However, his interpretation of the symbolic role of the performer was quite different from that of either Picasso or Chagall. He was fascinated by the split between their outward public face and their inner personality. At the period most circus performers were in essence itinerant and very often extremely impoverished. It was only when they put on their traditional and very often splendid costumes for each performance that they appeared rich and aloof. This dichotomy of appearance seemed to Rouault to sum up his feelings about the two-faced attitudes of contemporary society.