Louis Spiegel Original Pen and Ink on Paper Clown Portrait

Item Details

Ink on paper

An original pen and ink on paper clown portrait by well-listed Ohio artist Louis Spiegel (1901-1975). Spiegel was best-known for his clown portraits, such as this one, and his depictions of famous Cincinnati landmarks. In this painting, a goofy clown smiles warmly at the viewer, wearing a cap over his wild wiry hair. The painting is signed and dated in pen to the lower right, with the paper torn in a freeform style around the image. It is presented in a gilded narrow wood frame, with a natural linen mat and white-painted wood inner filet, wired to the verso for wall attachment. A newspaper article about the artist is included to the verso.
Spiegel was quoted as saying, “I don’t just paint the clown, I paint the soul. Sometimes I wonder, who’s the clown, him or me? I think what I love about this fellow is that he knows himself for what he is.”

Condition

-minor wear to frame

Dimensions

-measurement of visible artwork 15.5″ × 9.25″

Item #

18CIN154-037