We mostly imagine the clown as a circus clown with a red ball nose, known as the "smallest mask in the world." However, the history of the clown figure dates back much further than the circuses that emerged in the 18th century. It is an expression of a complex intertwining of socio-political, theater-historical, body-related, and gender-related discourses. The contributors to this volume, including internationally renowned clowns (Leo Bassi, Dimitri, Oleg Popov, among others), present contemporary artistic positions on the clown as a "form of play," as well as theoretical perspectives from various scientific disciplines. Previously overlooked by research, the clown proves to be a paradigmatic figure in cultural history.