The frightening clown is a juxtaposition of childhood innocence and death and violence. This disturbing image wears a menacing smile, meant to terrorize, often showing jagged teeth and red, glowing eyes. Done either in greyscale or vivid color, the clown is best done as a portrait with realistic aspects to showcase the horror of the murderous character.

The sad clown represents a melancholic reality hidden underneath the happy façade that society expects from a clown. This can be a symbol of depression and tragedy, stemming from the origins of pantomime, from which the modern clown is derived. The unhappy expression is sometimes paired with a laughing or smiling clown, an homage to the theatre of ancient Greece. “Weary Willie” is another recognizable early 19th century clown figure who came to represent the Great Depression and times of great difficulty.

Lastly, the laughing clown is a symbol of childhood memories and happiness. It emphasizes an affiliation with performance as well as comedy. It often used as a specific reference to television and the origins of the circus and circus performers like Charlie Cairoli, who sparked the traditional clown culture.

Quick History of Clowns

We’ve seen clowns our whole lives but how many times have you questions where they came from? Over the course of history, there have been both men and women that have had the ability to make people laugh. Unfortunately, people didn’t keep records outside of great battles and scholars so information about clowns was hard to come by. However, there were clowns back then and even though they weren’t known as that, they existed.

Back in Ancient Egypt, African Pygmies were used in the courts to entertain the Royals Families and Pharaohs. They would dress in strange outfits and leopard skins while dancing and impersonating ancient Gods like Bes.