1855
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Pierrot is a 1855 by Paul Gavarni, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
A sad clown in a baggy white suit and black hat slumps against a wall. His face is pale, his lips downturned, and his eyes look tired. This isn’t just any clown—it’s Pierrot, a character from old French street shows. Gavarni drew him often, usually with funny captions. Here, though, the joke feels quiet, like the laughter stopped. If you like this mood, look up *sfumato*—a soft, smoky way of blending colors that makes faces feel alive.
This drawing, by caricaturist Paul Gavarni, presents a character from pantomime and festival culture. Called Pierrot, he is recognizable by his comically ill-fitting clothes and was popular in performances during Gavarni's lifetime. The artist drew Pierrot several times late in his career, often adding humorous captions, which likely related to his work in printmaking and illustration.
Around the time that Paul Gavarni made this drawing, he also created a series of prints called School of the Pierrots (1851–53), which chronicled the character's misadventures.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Paul Gavarni was the pen name of Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier (13 January 1804 – 24 November 1866), a French illustrator, born in Paris.
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