Mid-Century Expressionist Jester Portrait “Plaisantin Farceur” Oil Painting by Saul Kovner

Details

Description

Bold and expressionist in spirit, this mid-20th century original oil painting depicts a jester in vivid strokes of red, gold, … Read more Bold and expressionist in spirit, this mid-20th century original oil painting depicts a jester in vivid strokes of red, gold, and violet. The figure, with his pointed cap and faraway gaze, is rendered against a swirling background of color that heightens the drama of the scene. Painted on masonite, the work is inscribed on the verso “Plaisantin Farceur” — French for “joker” or “jester” — underscoring the timeless symbolism of the character. The painting is presented in a substantial wood frame. Measures:
Sight size: 23.5" x 17.5"
Framed 29.5" x 23.5"

About the Artist
Russian-born Saul Kovner (1904–1981) settled in New York City in the 1920s, where he studied at the Pratt Institute and National Academy of Design. He maintained a studio near Central Park, taught classes, and created paintings, prints, and drawings of the city’s streets and residents. During the 1930s Kovner worked as a painter and printmaker for the Federal Art Project, part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) created to support American artists during the Great Depression. Later he moved to California, exhibiting widely on the West Coast. Kovner’s work is represented in major collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institution.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE
The inscription Plaisantin Farceur — literally “joker” or “jester” — recalls an archetype long favored by artists. Beyond comic relief, the jester often embodied social truth disguised in humor. Kovner’s richly textured brushwork and vibrant palette elevate this familiar figure into something emblematic: at once playful and contemplative, a character who reflects both folly and wisdom. See less