Untitled (Circus Theme)
1951
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
drypoint in black on wove paper
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams
Accession Number
2008.115.4433
Art Historical Context
**Untitled (Circus Theme)** byore Simon, created in 1951, the whimsical energy of the circus in a striking drypoint print on wove paper. This intimate work, housed in the National Gallery of's Reba and Dave Williams Collection reflects the post-World War II era's fascination with escapism and spectacle, when circuses symbolized joy and wonder amid societal recovery. Drypoint, Simon's chosen medium, involves scratching directly into a metal plate with a sharp tool, creating burrs that yield rich, velvety lines full of texture and depth. Unlike smoother etching techniques, drypoint's intimate p...