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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Jester (Self Portrait) by Lionel Lindsay

'Comedy of Life'

A visual exploration of themes depicted in 'The Jester' by Lionel Lindsay.

Lionel Lindsay portrait story
Video: 2 minutes

Video transcript

Narrator: Lionel Lindsay portrayed himself as a jester. But how did he see the jester? Sinister? Sad? Or happy?

The jester is a jape, a joke, so surely the jester must be an entertainer, a fool who makes us laugh with his gags, his cheekiness, and his bright red nose.

But as we laugh, there fall the tears of the clown. In literature and in life, the stories of the entertainer whose own life was a tragedy, a white face lost in shadows, a sad face beneath the fool’s hood. Or, there are jesters who bring tragedy – or at least mischief. Clowns who frighten children and make adults squirm. Insolent harlequins spreading anarchy through comedy and Punchinellos who beat their wives.

Which jester was Lionel Lindsay?

The clue perhaps is in the title he gave to his autobiography: Comedy of Life.

The Jester (self portrait)

1 The Jester (self portrait), 1923 Lionel Lindsay. © National Library of Australia.

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Kym Bonython
'The man and his cap'

The Jester (Self Portrait) by Lionel Lindsay
'Comedy of Life'

Dame Elisabeth Murdoch
'Weaving the Dame'

Vali Myers
'A friend in a lift'

Related information

The Jester (self portrait)

The Jester (self portrait)

The Jester (self portrait)

Bloodlines

Magazine article by Michelle Fracaro, 2004

Michelle Fracaro describes Lionel Lindsay's woodcut The Jester (self-portrait).

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The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

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