Sketch of an Elderly Man c. 19th century

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier's "Sketch of an Elderly Man," at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small drawing with so much raw emotion, almost like a cry for help. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Daumier, a master of social commentary, often depicted the marginalized. Consider the political climate of 19th century France. Do you see this not just as a portrait, but as a representation of societal anxieties, of the disenfranchised finding their voice amidst upheaval? Editor: That's a powerful lens. I was so focused on the individual. I now see the universality of the struggle in his expression. Curator: Precisely. Art can be a mirror reflecting not just appearances, but the very soul of a society.