The Circus

1930

Oil on Masonite

30” x 40”

This vibrant oil painting, full of color and energy, represents a foreseeable future of justice and equality. The scene is in front of the old Talbot County Courthouse, which is significant because it is presumed to be a place of justice and equal rights. The man standing in the middle, the “ringmaster,” is the artist's husband. The man below him appears to be holding a bottle and offering him a refreshment. Rose and her husband were known for entertaining all people from the community. Perhaps this image is a statement about the prevailing racial inequality at the time, because the crowd of on-lookers is noticeably segregated. This crowd is watching what appears to be a roundabout of carts and carriages filled with Black and White people. The roundabout gives off a feeling of unity and integration. Could the circular motion of the integrated carts represent a movement towards future equality?