Le Clown (The Clown). Picasso had been fascinated by clowns and circus performers from the earliest days of his career. The clown, a comedic character usually depicted in distinctive patterned clothing, became a personal emblem for the artist. This lithograph is typical of Picasso's exuberant approach to the subject. It was created after a wax chalk drawing executed in Feb. 1968. The artist's curiosity and sense of play remained at age 86.