Study of an Actor with a Tambourine c. 19th century

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier's "Study of an Actor with a Tambourine," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a sketch, full of movement. What can you tell me about the historical context of such a piece? Curator: Daumier often used art to critique the bourgeoisie. Does this performer transcend those societal constraints? Is their exuberance performative liberation, or an imposed role? The sketch invites us to question the actor's agency and identity. Editor: I see, so the "actor" becomes a lens for examining social dynamics of the time. Curator: Precisely. Are they celebrating, or merely acting out a prescribed joy for the entertainment of others? Considering Daumier's lithographs, how might this study relate to his broader critique of societal roles? Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. Thanks!