Playing on the timeless “sad clown” trope, Stańczyk provides an ironic social commentary.
This painting speaks to those cursed with knowledge. The ones who mourn the true state of affairs, while the nobles make merry.
I’ve had the pleasure of viewing this painting in person twice, once at the Louvre, and a second time at The National Museum in Warsaw.
A lovely painting featuring a beloved character in Polish culture, by a devout Catholic artist, Jan Matejko.
