Circus and Variety Art

Circus and Variety Art
During the years of the Renaissance caricaturists showed all kinds of people's foolishness. A fool (clown) with bells expressed human vices. P.Bruegel pictured wildly acting magicians. They seem to come from his nightmares, as well as grotesque pictures in medieval manuscripts and bas-relieves. At all times ironically-minded artists (S. Eisenstein, P. Picasso, B. Buffe, F. Fellini) enjoyed painting clowns. F. Fellini shot a film "Clowns", in his opinion a clown is a caricature "which points out human features that unite people with an animal and a child, with those who laugh and who are laughed at". Sarcasm, irony, grotesque, jeers, and hyperbolas are used by clowns and caricaturists. The famous clown Durov usually rode a pig on a circus ring continuing the tradition of the XVIIIth century (lubok "Jester Pharnos on a Pig"). The clown Rumyantsev ( there is a monument to him in Moscow) had a pseudonym "Karandash" ("Pencil"). One French and one Bulgarian caricaturist had the same pseudonym. The caricaturist A. Alyoshichev was a professional clown, K. Eliseev designed clown's costumes. Clownery is a parody art, it has much in common with humour and satire. In Mayakovsky's caricatures the Entente, Wilson, Lloyd-George were the clowns. Circus caricatures appeared with the circus itself at the end of the XIXth century. The "Budilnik" magazine published caricatures devoted to the circus of Salamonsky. Opening of the third arena in the circus was reflected in the "Life" magazine. The caricatures of the F.-T. Barnum's circus were published in 1882 in the USA. They were devoted to a "star" elephant Jumbo that was very popular, and an English circus wanted to get it. The "Satiricon" magazine published essays about "Chiniselli" circus, introduced new programmes. Circus caricatures were popular in 1960s. A collection of caricatures "A circus smiles" was published in 1970. The Durovs were the first to introduce some burning questions in the clownade. The burning topics of the day were presented by many clowns ("Tank" by Karandash during the Second World War), there were also a lot of humorous performances ("Saxophone" by O. Popov where a mouth-piece of a saxophone is a carrot). O. Popov, a famous clown, published his caricatures in the "Krokodil" magazine. A sketch "Log" by Y. Nikulin and M. Shuidin - a parody on film producing - is like a caricature. The clown L. Engibarov was standing on one hand dangling his legs - a caricature on unnecessary skill. In one sketch the visitors of a restaurant waited for a service for a long time, and began to eat a table. Many caricatures are devoted to conjurers. A series of pictures by N. Radlov "Immortal tour" ridicules a clumsy magician. Today some artists (A. Akopyan, I. Zaripov) paint caricatures skillfully. Zaripov draws even with his leg. Such caricaturists performed long ago (before 1917), and called themselves "artists-momentalists". They were able to draw a caricature out of a single ink spot. A lot of caricatures are devoted to the playwrights, singers, and musical groups. Humour and satire are in the variety art itself. Before 1917 in St. Petersburg there was a cabaret where the performances were held by famous actors - for example, F. Kurikhin, the comical actor, singer, and compere. At the late 1920s N. Cherkasov took part in the parody "Pat, Patashon, and Charlie Chaplin". The music-halls and theatres of miniature appeared ten years later. Despite many difficulties they cultivated humorous arts.
1. Medieval Magician and his Gear. XVIIth century.	2. Caricature of the Barnum circus director.	3. P. Galadgev. Caricature of F. Kurikhin.
4. S. Yutkevich. Caricature of V. Maas.	5. V. Ardov. Caricature of A. Raikin.	6. V. Galba. Caricature of Karandash (M. Rumyantsev).
7. Y. Nikulin. Self-caricature from the book "Almost seriously".	8. I. Igin. caricature of V. Maas and M. Chervinsky.	9. Drawing from the book "Circus Smiles".
By Dmitry Moskin Information supplied by: http://www.soros.karelia.ru