Caricature Sketches 1877

Edgar Degas created this sketch, called "Caricature Sketches," in the late 19th or early 20th century. During this period, caricature was a popular form of social and political commentary. Degas, a man of his time, often captured the physiognomies of the Parisian bourgeoisie. These sketches offer a window into his observations and perhaps his critiques of the social types around him. You can see how he exaggerates certain features, playing with the visual language of caricature to convey personality or social standing. The way he renders each face also conveys a sense of how identities are performed. These caricatures are not just playful sketches but a kind of study of character and social dynamics, filtered through Degas's own perspective. How do you think these sketches reflect the social world of Degas's Paris?