The old clown photos in TASCHEN's The Circus. 1870s–1950s are incredible. A lot of the clowns look more fantastical than funny, with smeared makeup, giant costumes, and intense expressions. Some of the photos are charming, and others feel haunting yet beautiful.
What I like most is that many of the pictures weren't taken during performances. They show clowns sitting backstage, smoking, resting, or just staring into the camera, all fully dressed for the show. It gives the photos a very real feel, making them even more interesting to look at.
The whole book feels like a glimpse into a completely different world. The old circus wagons, handmade outfits, and performers are all unique, from an era of circus culture that feels surreal to look back on. You can spend forever looking through the photos because every image has some odd little detail hiding in it.
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