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ARCH.2003.36, Rendition: 805499
This image shows a vintage, black-and-white promotional poster or postcard, mounted on a page inside what appears to be an old scrapbook or album with a light brown, textured paper page and a reddish-brown binding.
The poster is a collage-style advertisement for the Ringling Brothers Circus, featuring a collection of dramatic, illustrated animal portraits including lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, and bears, many of which are depicted behind bars or in cages. The imagery evokes the spectacle and scale of a classic traveling circus.
On the left side of the poster, bold, blocky type announces “AUG 4” with the partially visible word “WALLA” above it, likely indicating “WALLACE” (as in Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, often billed as “The Greatest Show on Earth” under the Ringling name).
Beneath the poster, a printed caption provides context:
“Ringling Brothers is playing at the Garden, and the Fogg has added this postcard, a reproduction of Ben Shahn’s Circus Poster, Smithland Kentucky (October 1935) to the selection of postcards for sale inside the front door.”
This text reveals that the image is not an original circus poster but a reproduction created by the artist Ben Shahn in 1935, and it was offered for sale at the Fogg Art Museum (now the Harvard Art Museums) as part of a collection of postcards.
Additionally, someone has handwritten in blue ink in the lower right corner of the poster:
“MAY 15 1973”
This suggests the date the owner pasted or acquired the item.
In summary, this is a historical artifact — a reproduction of Ben Shahn’s 1935 circus poster — preserved in a scrapbook and annotated with a 1973 date, reflecting a personal or institutional collection of art and ephemera related to American popular culture.
The image appears to be a page from a book or portfolio featuring a vintage-style illustration. The illustration is of a group of animals, including lions, tigers, and other large animals, seemingly inside a zoo enclosure or behind bars. The animals are depicted in various poses, some lounging, others roaring, and one appears to be howling. The illustration is in black and white, with some shading and detail to give the scene depth. The background includes what looks like a wooden wall or fence and some foliage.
The page itself is part of a larger collection, as indicated by the caption at the bottom, which mentions a postcard reproduction from "The Gazette" from Smithland, Kentucky, dated October 1935. The caption also notes that this image was added by the Fogg Museum to a selection of postcards for sale inside the front door, with the date of the addition being May 18, 1973. This suggests that the page is part of a historical or archival document, possibly related to the Fogg Museum's exhibitions or collections.
This image appears to be a page from a scrapbook or a collection with a vintage postcard or poster affixed to it. The postcard features an illustration of a circus scene with various animals behind bars, including lions, tigers, a polar bear, a gorilla, and other exotic animals. The text on the left side of the postcard is partially obscured but seems to include the letters "JCAH" and "AUG," possibly indicating a date or abbreviation. There is additional text at the bottom of the postcard that provides context about the Ringling Brothers Circus and a mention of the Fogg Art Museum adding this postcard to their collection. The page itself has a beige or light brown color, and the edges of the book are visible, showing a red binding. The postcard is dated May 18, 1973, and is labeled "THE GAZETTE Poster, Smithland Kentucky (October 1935)."
The image shows an open book with a postcard inserted in the middle. The postcard has a black-and-white illustration of various animals. The postcard has a watermark that reads "JCAH AUG 4" and "THE SPECTATE Poster, Smithland Kentucky (October 1955) to the selection." The postcard also has a handwritten note that reads "Ringling Brothers is playing at the Garden, and the Fog has added this postcard, a reproduction of Ben Shahn's Circus MAY 18 1973 of postcards for sale inside the front door." The book is open to a blank page.
The image shows a book with a collage of black-and-white images pasted on the left page. The collage features various animals, including a lion, a giraffe, a zebra, and a tiger. The collage also includes a person, possibly a circus performer, holding a stick and standing in front of a cage. The collage has a red border with the words "JCA AUG" in the upper left corner. The book's left page has a brown border.
The image depicts an open book or album page featuring a vintage-style illustration. The illustration is a detailed, black-and-white drawing that appears to be a poster or advertisement. The text at the top of the illustration reads "US JCAH AUG," suggesting a date or event reference, possibly August of an unspecified year.
The central part of the illustration showcases a lively scene with various animals, including a lion, a giraffe, and other circus or zoo-like creatures, gathered around a central figure. The animals are depicted in a dynamic, almost theatrical manner, with some appearing to interact with the central character, who is likely a performer or entertainer. The background includes architectural elements, such as a fence or barrier, and additional details that suggest a circus or entertainment setting.
Below the illustration, there is a caption that reads:
"Ringling Brothers is playing at the Garden, and the Fogg has added this postcard, a reproduction of Ben Shahn's Circus Poster, Smithland Kentucky (October 1935) to the selection of postcards for sale inside the front door."
This caption provides context, indicating that the illustration is a reproduction of a circus poster created by artist Ben Shahn, dated October 1935, and associated with Ringling Brothers Circus in Smithland, Kentucky. The page itself has a simple, aged appearance with a light brown cover, suggesting it may be part of a collection or scrapbook. The overall aesthetic evokes a nostalgic, historical feel, characteristic of mid-20th-century memorabilia.
This is an image of a scrapbook page featuring a black-and-white printed illustration. The illustration appears to be a poster or image of a circus scene, with various animals such as lions, a giraffe, and possibly other exotic creatures behind bars, reminiscent of a circus cage. A portion of the text on the poster reads, "US JCAH AUG 4," although parts of the text are partially obscured. Handwritten notes are included below the image, providing additional context and information about its source, including references to "Ringling Brothers," "the poster," "Smithland Kentucky," and "Ben Shahn's Circus." The layout appears archival, as this page has been dedicated to preserving and annotating historical or artistic material.
The image shows a page from a scrapbook with a clipped black-and-white illustration pasted near the top center of the page. The illustration appears to be an old advertisement or poster featuring a variety of wild animals including a polar bear, gorilla, elephant, lion, tiger, hippopotamus, giraffe, and several birds. The animals are grouped together in a somewhat crowded composition.
There is text on the clipped piece beneath the illustration that reads: "Ringling Brothers is playing at the Garden, and the Fogg has THE GARATE Poster, Smithland Kentucky (October 1935) to the selection added this postcard, a reproduction of Ben Shahn’s Circus MAY 19, 1973 of postcards for sale inside the front door."
On the left side of the illustration, there are partial large letters and numbers, including "JCAH," "AUG," and a large number "4". The entire scrapbook page is otherwise blank, made of brown paper, and the clipped piece is affixed with what looks like adhesive tape or glue.
The image shows an open book or album with a single page visible to the viewer. On the right edge of the page, there's a brownish border, which is the binding of the book. The left page is not visible, suggesting the book is possibly laid flat with just the right page visible.
The page contains a black and white replica of a poster or an illustration. At the top of this page, in large block letters, partially cut off at the top edge, it reads "JULSCAH AUG," which likely indicates a range of months but is missing some characters due to the cut-off. This might be meant to denote July, August, and possibly June, suggesting it could be a segment of a calendar or a schedule of events.
Below this text, a vintage circus or theater scene is depicted with a variety of animal figures and a strong graphic style typical of early to mid-20th century posters. We see a large collection of different animals, such as lions, elephants, a giraffe, and what appear to be camels, depicted within fenced enclosures or performing stages. Most of the animals are oriented to face the viewer, and they appear to be calm, with no signs of distress or movement. The style of the illustration is detailed and stylized rather than realistic, with heavy use of line art and shading to create a dramatic visual effect.
There is some text below the illustration which seems to provide some context about the image: "Ringling Brothers is playing at the Garden, and the Fogge The Great..." The text below is partly obscured, but it appears to reference an event by Ringling Brothers that took place at a "Garden," likely an event venue, and mentions someone named "Fogge The Great." Furthermore, the text states that this illustration is a postcard reproduction of Ben Shahn's "Circus," adding historical and artistic context to the item displayed.
Considering the format, style, and accompanying text, it seems this book or album is a collection of historical illustrations, posters, or memorabilia, possibly from a circus or theatrical performance. The inclusion of reference to Ben Shahn, a known American artist, hints at the artistic value of the content within the book.
A small black‑and‑white newspaper clipping pasted to a brown scrapbook page. The image shows a circus scene with animals (elephants and other animals) behind bars, and some people in the foreground. There are large bold letters on the left side—likely part of a date or title. A caption runs beneath the clipping, mentioning Ringling Brothers and a poster/postcards related to the show. The rest of the page is blank.