Barnum & Bailey
24 x 30 inches
circa 1939
oil on canvas
unsigned

Barnum & Bailey
The last year the “Barnum & Bailey” title was used alone was 1918. In 1919 the title was combined with the “Ringling Bros.” title to become the much better known “Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.”  
In looking at the crowd in front of the Side Show Platform with the Minstrel Show, the people’s dress is much later than 1918, indicating this painting was probably done during the 1930s or early 1940s, during the WPA era of the Great Depression or slightly later.  Minstrel Shows were still being performed in Side Shows at this time, as race relations and Civil Rights were still a futuristic dream. The Minstrel Performers, however, are depicted as African-Americans, even though they seem to be wearing make-up around their mouths and lips. They are not depicted as Caucasians dressed in black-face make-up with large white lips, which would have been from a bit earlier time.  These White Performers appearing in black face would have become passe in the 1920’s, also consistent with this paintings later date.
The artist who created this painting most likely was based on the East coast and one can speculate that the artist very well may have been based in New York or thereabouts.  Because of the use of the “older” title of “Barnum & Bailey”, one could easily speculate that the artist may have been a youth in the circa 1900-1918 era, and that the age of the artist by the time this painting was painted could be estimated to be at least 35-40+ years old, but, again, this is purely speculation.