The summer of 1977 Holland spent time at Mas Gouge with his family - I remember it not least as the news that Elvis had died had to be gleaned from the Midi Libre. Rather than drive all the way through France to get back to Pembury, Holland decided to put the car on the train, so our final evening in the South was spent at Avignon, waiting for the time to meet up with the train as it came up from Italy.
The Avignon Festival didn't seem to be the major event it is today, or perhaps we were not so well tuned in to the French cultural scene at the time. In any case it was over in August, but the Fringe goes on for weeks after, which is why our final meal, in a restaurant near to the Pope's Palace turned out to be quite so memorable. We sat out on the terrace to enjoy the balmy evening and watch the people go by, and were rewarded with an amazing array of street performers throughout the meal.
The Fire Eaters were perhaps not what we needed when tucking into our first course, as the accelerant they swilled around was very pungent. They were however particularly dramatic and made a great impression on me, not least as I was only 13 at the time. There were also singers, jugglers and a trick cyclist of varying ability, but the most inspirational for Holland were the Comedia del Arte clowns. Their costumes were vivid, their act more suited to an adult audience, their make up very stylized and with the fading light, made a truly dramatic final evening of our holiday.
Holland made a number of "napkin" sketches, and once back home set to work, driven by what he had seen. There are lino cuts of fire eaters, dingy Spanish singers, a trick cyclist and a "normal" clown, but the Comedia del Arte clowns/dancers inspired a dramatic painting.
This oil on board painting has not been properly framed but mounted on a piece of white board, with a fine pine outer frame, and is in a private collection. However it was so admired and discussed that Holland did do a lino cut version, with a limited print run done at home. This does not have the range of colour of the original, but retains the liveliness and drama of the original.
Three colour lino print, limited run, some copies still available.