Clown from Barnum & Bailey circus reclining on Eames lounge chair

When I was in Clown College they showed us Charles and Ray Eames’ film “Clown Face”, which they made in 1971 (I went to Clown College in ‘79).
Charles apparently liked photographing clowns. I recently discovered this photo that was made apparently as a promo shot for Herman Miller. I don’t know if Charles shot it, but the photo is cool, nonetheless.

I found the photo via Pop Art Machine, which somehow has linked into the Library of Congress image database. The image search function through Pop Art Machine (I’m not sure what it’s really supposed to be for) is often better than the LOC search page.

Link

Previously on Boing Boing:
• Charles and Ray Eames stamps
• Eames molded plywood leg splints
• Eames Elephant film
• Eames' solar powered "Do Nothing Machine" from 1958
• Video: Polaroid SX-70 Commercial by Charles and Ray Eames x The Cramps
• Vintage anti-porn propaganda -- Commie Terrorist Smutmongers!
• Eames Demetrios presents "Discover Kymamerica"

Discussion

Take a look at this

#1 posted by Jerril , June 19, 2008 1:30 PM

Is that a photograph of a clown on a lounge chair, or a photograph of a painting of a clown on a lounge chair?

(or a photograph of a painting of a photograph of a clown on a lounge chair for extra recursion)

Pardon my horrible "photoshop" moment, but it looks more like a painting than a photograph, at least in the small version we see on the linked website.

#2 posted by gpeare

, June 19, 2008 2:24 PM

No photoshop a'tall.

He's posed in front of an old-timey style stage fire curtain. That's what makes it look like a painting.

#3 posted by manuelg , June 19, 2008 2:53 PM

surely that is not a "Clown from Barnum & Bailey circus", that is Red Skelton's clown face paint.

#4 posted by ronbailey

, June 19, 2008 3:44 PM

Clowns suck.

#5 posted by paulm , June 19, 2008 4:16 PM

Nice job, Gary. Great shot.

#6 posted by betatron , June 19, 2008 4:50 PM

gorgeous... this makes me sad. My neice *wrecked* my eames recliner using it as a rockING chair.

#7 posted by Moon , June 19, 2008 6:05 PM

It's chaise LONGUE, not chaise lounge, BTW.

#8 posted by eustace , June 19, 2008 9:54 PM

Why does this make me like Eames furniture less? Oh yeah, it's because clowns are scary. Shudder.

#9 posted by tomaq , June 20, 2008 9:06 AM

"My father was an alcoholic circus clown who used to beat me with his oversize shoes."
Matt Taibbi

#10 posted by gpeare

, June 20, 2008 10:46 AM

My sister once sent me a Jack Handy card for my birthday with this quote. Best birthday card I ever received.

"To me, clowns aren't funny. In fact, they're kinda scary. I've wondered where this started and I think it goes back to the time I went to the circus and a clown killed my dad."

Btw, folks, take it from a former professional clown. Most "clowns" do suck. Then there are guys like Bill Irwin. The guy is brilliant.