The Artist's Dilemma

1901 Fantasy Comedy 2 minutes Directed by Edwin S. Porter

About The Artist's Dilemma

An artist falls asleep in his studio. A woman steps out of a grandfather clock and poses. A demon clown comes out of the clock, objects to the sketch, and wipes the canvas with one brush until a second woman in the same dress appears. The two women dance, kick the clown and the artist, and merge into one figure. The demon merges with her as well. When the artist tries to embrace her, she turns into the demon and knocks him down. The demon goes back into the clock.

Cast & crew

Edwin S. Porter Director

More about The Artist's Dilemma

Edison Studios released the short. Film catalogs credit Edwin S. Porter with the direction. It was filmed in New York.

Themes

a woman stepping out of a clock
a clown who paints over the canvas
two women who become one
the embrace that turns into a blow
artist
grandfather clock
clown
portrait
dream
Edison

Music

Silent.

Preservation

A copy is on Wikimedia Commons as The Artist's Dilemma (1901) - yt.webm.

Notes

An Edison catalog description ends the short when the artist wakes after the two women have been merged into one.

Scenes

The woman comes out of the clock and poses.
One brush-stroke turns the canvas into a second woman.
The two women merge, and the demon merges with them.
She becomes the demon and knocks the artist down.

Also available

Wikimedia Commons (The Artist's Dilemma (1901) - yt.webm)