Clowns Making Up 1979

Clarence Holbrook Carter created this painting, titled "Clowns Making Up", using oil on canvas. It is a work that seems to explore themes of identity and performance, reflecting the complex social dynamics of the time it was made. The artist presents us with two figures preparing for their roles as clowns, a moment of transformation that blurs the line between reality and artifice. Carter was an American artist working in the mid to late twentieth century, a period marked by significant social and political change. The figures in "Clowns Making Up" may allude to the ways individuals construct and perform identities in response to societal expectations, hinting at underlying tensions and power dynamics. To fully understand the painting, we can investigate the history of circus and popular entertainment, considering how these forms of spectacle have shaped cultural perceptions and reinforced or challenged social norms. We might also reflect on the public role of art, and the ways artistic expressions can comment on and critique the social structures of their time.