Portret van de Vieux Clown

The painting of the old clown was created at a period when Paris-based artist Kees van Dongen was already fairly well-known. He used quick, rough strokes to paint this portrait of an old, cross-eyed man. The colourfully attired figures of the circus and theatre were a popular subject for many artists during this period. His use of bright, unmixed colours and primitive-looking forms led to Van Dongen’s work being regarded as part of the Fauvism movement. In 1905, Van Dongen was invited to participate with two of his works in the Salon d’Automne (the annual autumn exhibition). His work was displayed alongside pieces by artists including Henri Matisse, André Derain and Maurice de Vlaminck. One of the critics labelled the participants as ‘fauves’ (wild beasts).