We were at a thrift shop today, and I saw a matted frame clown drawing. I did all the usual things, put it under light to see if the ink or paint shined above the paper. I turned it over and it was nailed in the frame. What I didn't notice at the time was that someone pulled half the nails out. So, I could have pulled the piece out of the frame. My wife looked at it, and thought it was real. It was $8, and with the 25% Sr discount, it was only $6. When I got home and noticed that most of the nails were removed, I was positive that it was a cheap print. Someone had already looked, saw it wasn't real and left it. If that's what happened, they was STUPID. This is from 1941 Gouche, titled CLOWN, Newark NJ Ringling Circus. Not only is the front original (and really cool). Look at the back. The artist is Herbert Scheffel. He has a history around NYC art scenes, and was a puppeteer in 1936 - 1937. Thankfully I couldn't have been more wrong.
I like strange things. The clown is so weird looking, I knew I wanted it. I'm just glad it wasn't a cheap print. The back is almost cooler.
I aint a big clown painting connoisseur, but miraculously, this one could be a wiener. Here's something on the painter- https://www.askart.com/bio/Herbert_H_Scheffel/10047583/Herbert_H_Scheffel
From the internet: "In 1941, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey "Clown Alley" featured iconic performers. Notable figures included the famed Auguste comedian Lou Jacobs, Felix Adler, Charlie Bell, Harry Dann, and Frankie Saluto." Looks the most like Charlie Bell. Debora
