The Clown

This portrait of a clown appears caught in a moment of private reflection, given his moody expression and downward gaze. White gloves, a ruffled collar, and the ball convey the figure’s profession, while the orange, geometric background suggest an urban environment. Charles Sebree’s paintings often depicted clowns, acrobats, and other performers, reflecting his lifelong interest in the theater, as well as influences from Picasso and other modern masters who explored similar themes in their work. After a career that spanned the Black visual art movements of Chicago and New York and included the successful production of the Broadway musical, “Mrs. Patterson,” Sebree moved to Washington, DC, where he would spend the remainder of his life.