This unusual painting shows Lucas’s interest in Cubism and Surrealism. The flat, linear forms in the background resemble work by Dalí, whilst the exploration of facial structure Picasso. There appears to be a dichotomy at play between the manner in which the background has been painted and that of the clown’s head. The strong pastel lines of the figure stand out from the muted tones behind. The background appears to show part of the structure of a circus ‘big top’, whilst the shapes at the left, although initially appearing abstract also seem to resemble a clown’s smiling face, with blue eye and turquoise eyebrow. It is a complex image that reflects the experimentation that Lucas was able to enjoy as an amateur painter.