Clown and Boy by Norman Rockwell

May 18, 1918 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post

One alternate title for this illustration is Off-Duty Clown.

This painting was Rockwell's twelfth overall picture featured on the cover of The Post and the second Rockwell cover in 1918. The Post featured a Rockwell illustration on its cover four times in 1918.

Clown and Boy

With this painting, Norman Rockwell treats to a glimpse into the life of a clown.

Of the three characters in the painting, only one seems aware of the others. That character is the boy.

He has just seen the circus show. That show probably featured these other two characters, the clown and his clown dog. He is anxious to make small talk with such celebrity characters. He will brag to friends tomorrow about his exploits.

The boy still carries his 5 cent bag of peanuts and his helium-filled balloon on a stick. He already has a physical souvenir, but he wants a little mental souvenir.

The clown is off duty. All he wants to do between shows is to relax, cool his giant feet and read the sports page. He has at least one more show to do or he would have already removed his costume. So he ignores the boy.

The clown dog is really ignoring the scenario. He is asleep, though still in costume. No doubt he is saving his energy for jumping through flaming hoops and such.

The boy will just have to concoct a good story for his friends, because these two are just not interested...
(continued)

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