Pierrot stars in countless New Year greeting cards at the turn of the last century, reflecting his status in popular culture. He inspired literature, theater, movies, music and art, including porcelain statuettes that can be seen in the new Art Deco gallery at WMODA. The melancholy clown is over-the-moon in love with Columbine who breaks his heart in favor of Harlequin in the Italian commedia dell’arte performances.

The sad white-faced clown first appeared as Pedrolino in the improvised comic theater that flourished in Italy in the 16th century. He appears unmasked with a powdered face and is characterized by his trusting naiveté, often the butt of pranks. In France, he became known as Pierrot (Little Peter), and in 19th-century Paris, Jean-Gaspard Deburau became famous for his theatrical mime interpretation of the whimsical clown in baggy white clothes and black skull cap.

Artistic and cultural movements, including the Decadents and the Symbolists, embraced the lovesick clown as their alter-egos. Romantic poets fueled with absinthe transformed him from pathetic to demented. His poignant foibles and unrequited love were interpreted as soulful sensitivity, and he was often portrayed wistfully gazing at the distant moon, his only friend. By the early 20th century, Pierrot was also seen as a disillusioned, slighted clown seeking revenge on women.

The 1892 opera Pagliacci, meaning clowns, features a commedia dell’arte troupe whose Pierrot leader murders his wife. A family of Pierrots star in the 1890 pantomime L’Enfant Prodique, and a short film version was screened at the 1900 Paris World’s Fair. In 1907, it was the first feature-length motion picture filmed in Europe and Pierrots stole the show in popular culture. Troupes of Pierrots performed in seaside resorts wearing floppy white costumes and conical hats. The al fresco variety shows included comedy, dance and music, usually played on the banjo.