[Artwork Explained] Les Saltimbanques (1874) by Gustave Doré
“To gain money they have killed their child and in killing him they have found out that they had hearts” — Doré
‘The Acrobats’ or street entertainer was inspired by a real-life event of a family of circus performers whose son died after a tragic accident in one of their performances. Doré was struck by the event as he read the local newspaper and was furious with the family. How can someone call themselves a parent if they forced their child to do a dangerous act to gain money?
The well-orchestrated painting features a mother who cradles her son as he bled to death. The red coming out of his head contrasts with the paleness of his skin, the slightly agape lips and the frown on his brows portray the agony of the child.
The whole atmosphere was silenced by the soft gasps slipping out of the child’s mouth. The crowds seem curious about what had happened, the animals sat in such a manner as if they understood the situation.
Perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect of this painting is the realization and guilt of the parents. The mother’s eyes are shut firmly, with tears streaming down her face. She tries to comfort her son as if to make his death less painful, and maybe, just maybe, as remorse of her wrongdoing as well. The father, feels responsible for his son’s injury, staring at the soon-to-be lifeless child with a hopeless expression. His slumped posture, still dressed in full costume can’t hide the blame he proposed to himself.
And still, nothing can undo the tragedy.
Doré also emphasizes the catastrophe by placing a set of cards in front of the lady’s feet. The most notable one is the ‘ace of spades’ which aligns with the mother’s left foot, the card — in some contexts — is seen as a symbol of imminent death. The symbol is possibly suggesting that the mother knew about the risk and the outcome of the act but forced her child to perform anyway. The owl perched beside the mother suggests the lack of wisdom and judgment of the parents’ doings.
As we watch the event unfolds, we can’t help but notice the painting feels heavy with the weight of the parent’s responsibility. The circus miscellaneous scattered across the canvas accentuates the baggage of the disaster.
