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Cirkus Fazzi
Cirkus Fazzi
Cirkus Fazzi

Cirkus Fazzi

Artist (1894 - 1941)
Datec. 1940
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions20 x 24 in. (50.8 x 61 cm)
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineGift of The Hilbert Collection
Object number2020.108
DescriptionThe circus served as a powerful metaphor for life in the work of Hungarian painter Vilmos Aba-Novák, who infused his compositions with energy, drama and modernist stylization. In "Cirkus Fazzi," a richly colored oil painting from the Hilbert Collection, performers gather behind the scenes – clowns and acrobats, musicians and animals, all together in the special harmony that unites artistes of all sorts. The composition pulses with angular forms and earthy humor, evoking both celebration and complexity.
Though based in Budapest, Aba-Novák’s innovative style resonated with California collectors drawn to bold expression and a fresh, cosmopolitan aesthetic.

Mary Platt, Museum Director
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