T. Lux Feininger

Musical Clownery II. Performer: Oskar Schlemmer as musical clown

Musikalische Clownerie II. Darsteller: Oskar Schlemmer als musikalischer Clown

Repro: MAIN

1928, July, in Dessau
Negative untracable
Prints known:
1. Bauhaus-Archiv / Museum für Gestaltung, Berlin, Inv. Nr.: 3252/7, gelatin silver print with mouth and eyes intensified with black ink (probably by Oskar Schlemmer), 162 x 113 mm. Verso inscr. by Oskar Schlemmer: Oskar Schlemmer als musikalischer Clown mit mechanischem Cello, Schlemmer 1, right in red: foto Lux Feininger, center red stamp: die bauhausbühne dessau PROFESSOR OSKAR SCHLEMMER BAUHAUS DESSAU, upper center: D, lower right blue stamp: BAUHAUS-ARCHIV, and Inv. Nr.
[During the show of the stage-class at the end of the summer semester, on July 7, 1928, Oskar Schlemmer performs the new version of his 'Musical Clown' for the very first time.]

Scheper: "... The costume this time is a painted clown's face, made up by Siedhoff, richly ornamented and with twinkling medals decorated garments over a bright leotard, gloves and poulaines. His props are the dummy cello [created by Roman Clemens] with three buttons on its neck, a foil used as bow and a little cart for transportation. The moment when the bow strikes the strings buttons are pushed producing ringing and buzzing sounds. ... Schlemmer's cheerfulness was that of a clown, born from painful experience - and in his improvisations as 'Musical Clown' he performed this role in the most beautiful, deeply humane way."* [209, p. 174, 12]
Themes: Bauhaus-Stage, Bauhaus