Clown is one of the most delightful of Bory Jenő’s early small sculptures, preserving both the playfulness of the circus world and the artist’s receptiveness to humour.
Created in 1911, Clown is a small, characterfully modelled figure depicting a clown with a ball in his hand. Wearing a short cloak, pointed cap and oversized shoes, the figure evokes the familiar entertainer of the circus and fairground. His slightly backward-leaning posture and trick with the ball create a playful, dynamic effect.
The sculpture clearly exemplifies Bory Jenő’s interest in everyday life and human character. The artist did not create a caricature, but modelled a likeable, approachable figure in whom humour, lightness and sculptural powers of observation are present in equal measure.
The work survives in several versions. The collection of Bory Castle includes examples in pyrobasalt and white concrete, each approximately 25 centimetres high.