By: François Houtin

Medium: etching
Image Size: 4.75 x 3.5 inches
Edition: 40
Year: 1974

In Clown, François Houtin transforms the figure of the jester into a surreal construction of whimsical forms and botanical invention, inviting comparison to the work of Giuseppe Arcimboldo.

Etched with his signature precision, the composition assembles tubes, ribbons, fruits, and organic textures into a playful yet uncanny portrait. The pointed hat and gesturing hands recall the traditional performer, but Houtin’s imaginative fusion of plant life and mechanical detail turns the clown into a strange hybrid between nature and artifice. The result is both humorous and enigmatic—an allegory of transformation that celebrates Houtin’s intricate linework and inventive spirit.