“Travelling Show,” created in 1906 by Raoul Dufy, is an oil on canvas artwork belonging to the Post-Impressionism movement. The piece, measuring 55 x 60 cm, is a genre painting and is housed at the E.G. Bührle Foundation in Zürich, Switzerland.
The artwork captures a lively scene of a makeshift stage set amid what appears to be an outdoor fair or gathering. The scene teems with activity as a robust crowd, depicted with expressive brushstrokes, engages with the spectacle on the stage. Central to the composition are the performers, including a strongman and other entertainers, drawing the attention of the attendees. The vibrant use of colors and dynamic forms reflect Dufy’s characteristic style, while the casual, everyday nature of the depicted event underscores the genre painting classification. The French flags and suggestive letters in the background hint at the cultural context of the scene.
