The manager discovers great histrionic ability 1916

Ralph Barton created this humorous drawing with ink and watercolor on paper, and it feels like a peek into a glamorous yet absurd stage production. I imagine Barton, brush in hand, conjuring these characters with a few flicks of the wrist. There's a playfulness in the way he renders the figures, all exaggerated poses and theatrical flair. Just look at the woman's dress! The way it billows around her like a cloud. The man behind, dapper in his top hat and tails, seems to be acting, emoting, lost in his own performance. The limited color palette—blue, white, brown, and a touch of orange—gives the scene a slightly surreal, dreamlike quality. It reminds me a bit of other satirists like Honoré Daumier, who also used their art to poke fun at the foibles of society. Artists like Barton were in conversation with each other, riffing on ideas and pushing the boundaries of expression. Ultimately, this drawing is an invitation to laugh, to question, and to revel in the sheer joy of artistic creation.