Original Oil Painting-'The Musical Clown, Eastern European Art

Painting by S. Mylko '03. That's my grandfather, rest his soul. Steve or Didi as I called him, meaning grandfather in Ukrainian, passed away in the spring of 2008. She painted and behind on their walls and ours,.over 60 paintings she's done from the early 70s into the early part of the 2000s before he got sick. **Dimensions of Framed Painting: **26" (H) x 22" (W) ** Very well sized, Framed Oil Painting. The Ukrainian circus tradition is globally legendary, and during the 20th century, the "Musical Clown" was a cornerstone of the art form. Unlike Western clowns, Eastern European and Soviet-trained clowns were required to be highly skilled artists, wherein learning to play classical instruments was standard curriculum. ××The "Sad Clown" Trope: The melancholy expression paired with a stringed instrument is deeply rooted in Ukrainian and Slavic theater, symbolizing the bittersweet nature of life—making people laugh while carrying personal sorrow underneath. My grandfather unfortunately knew pain. He was born in 1926 in the old country in the Ukraine in Kiev, and was very poor. Growing up was tough back then; the Depression, the first world war, and he himself wa.in WWII. Then, on top of all of that, when his second born son, Gary, was only 30 years, old he lost his life to a plane crash, which tore the family apart, changing the family dynamic completely, as my dad had said to me once. He also never sold 1 painting, never thinking anyone would buy one OR one painting wouldnt do for another, do what it did for him... Bring some peace and solitude.