Tightrope Walker

About the Art

Shinn was associated with the so-called Ashcan artists in New York, known for their unflattering depictions of modern life. Shinn regularly made paintings about stage and circus performers, including this tight-rope walker. Spotlighted above a darkened audience, his sequined costume and white tights shine like the nearby chandelier.

Rather than a view from the audience’s perspective, Shinn’s compositional view is nearly level with the performer. This adds to the tension of the scene and allows us to greater empathize with the solo entertainer.

FEATURED IMAGE
Everett Shinn (American, 1876–1953), Tightrope Walker, 1924, oil on canvas, 23 1/2 x 18 inches (59.7 x 45.7 cm). Museum purchase with funds provided by the James F. Dicke Family and the E. Jeanette Myers Fund, 1998.7