The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word MIME
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
M
I
M
E
More clues leading to the result MIME
- Dumb artist medium-sized record label rejected
- Quiet performance in ballroom I'm enjoying
- Musical note in two forms from one you’d expect to be silent
- Act out the same note twice, but differently
- I am contracted in Maine to produce a play without dialogue
- Pretend to be a Nibelung
- Unspeakable acting!
- Master with musical company brought up play without words
- Silent act usually added to end of panto
- Poem I made up describing an actor
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Dumb artist" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case dumb artist = mime.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does MIME mean?
MIME noun- A form of acting without words; pantomime.
- A pantomime actor.
- A classical theatrical entertainment in the form of farce.
- A performer of such a farce.
- A person who mimics others in a comical manner.
- Any of various papilionid butterflies of the genus Chilasa or Papilio, that mimic other species in appearance.
- To mimic.
- To act without words.
- To represent an action or object through gesture, without the use of sound.