1970 (printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This painting by Albert Houthuesen represents the clown Charles Cameron, and was probably one of several clown portraits that Houthuesen drew at the Doncaster Theatre in 1945, when the Houthuesens were living temporarily in Tickhill, near Doncaster. According to Houthuesen's biographer, for him the clown became a symbol, inseparable in spirit from an artist and a poet, and many of his works portray the clown as philosopher and saint.
Albert Houthuesen (1903-1979) was born in Amsterdam but came to London with his mother in 1912 after the death of his father. After attending the Royal College of Art, he became a teacher and subsequently a full-time artist. His work covered a wide range of subjects and mediums but he always loved the theatre, dance and clowns, and was inspired to make his first clown drawings in 1944 after meeting the Hermans, a family of Russian Jewish clowns.
Albert Houthuesen (1903-1979) was born in Amsterdam but came to London with his mother in 1912 after the death of his father. After attending the Royal College of Art, he became a teacher and subsequently a full-time artist. His work covered a wide range of subjects and mediums but he always loved the theatre, dance and clowns, and was inspired to make his first clown drawings in 1944 after meeting the Hermans, a family of Russian Jewish clowns.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Charcoal and brown crayon on paper. |
| Brief description | Charles Cameron, probably as he appeared at the Doncaster Theatre, 1945. Charcoal and crayon by Albert Houthuesen (1903-1979). |
| Physical description | Charcoal and crayon drawing of Charles Cameron in baggy clown-type suit, standing with one foot in front of another in balletic pose, his hands by his sides with the figers splayed and the hands turned outwards. He is looking up to his left, his chin jutting out, his hair standing on end. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Inscribed in pencil verso: 'Charles Cameron' |
| Credit line | Given by Mrs Catherine Houthuesen |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This painting by Albert Houthuesen represents the clown Charles Cameron, and was probably one of several clown portraits that Houthuesen drew at the Doncaster Theatre in 1945, when the Houthuesens were living temporarily in Tickhill, near Doncaster. According to Houthuesen's biographer, for him the clown became a symbol, inseparable in spirit from an artist and a poet, and many of his works portray the clown as philosopher and saint. Albert Houthuesen (1903-1979) was born in Amsterdam but came to London with his mother in 1912 after the death of his father. After attending the Royal College of Art, he became a teacher and subsequently a full-time artist. His work covered a wide range of subjects and mediums but he always loved the theatre, dance and clowns, and was inspired to make his first clown drawings in 1944 after meeting the Hermans, a family of Russian Jewish clowns. |
| Associated objects |
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| Bibliographic reference | John Rothenstein ‘British Art Since 1900’, 1962.
John Rothenstein ‘Albert Houthuesen: An Appreciation’ 1969.
John Rothenstein ‘Modern English Painters’ vol 111, 1974.
Richard Nathanson ‘Walk To The Moon – The Story of Albert Houthuesen’ 1990.
David Buckman ‘Artists In Britain Since 1945’, 2006 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.423-1980 |
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| Record created | August 30, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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