Karikatuur van een acteur op twee bezems

The intriguing work Karikatuur van een acteur op twee bezems by Eugène Delacroix, created in 1821, offers a unique insight into the artist’s satirical and lighthearted side early in his career. This piece, executed simply on paper, is a classic example of French caricature from the early Romantic period. Delacroix captures a theatrical figure in an absurd pose, balanced precariously on two brooms. This witty drawing likely serves as a sharp commentary on a specific contemporary stage performance or a particular, perhaps melodramatic, actor familiar to Parisian audiences.

The energetic, minimalist lines characteristic of the drawing demonstrate Delacroix’s early command of observational figure drawing, even when focused on humor rather than the grand historical themes he would later embrace. Satire and political cartooning flourished in France during this period, offering artists like Delacroix an outlet for social commentary outside the established Salon system.

While the artist is globally recognized for monumental oil paintings, works like this reveal his constant engagement with contemporary life and popular culture. This particular piece is held in the prominent collection of the Rijksmuseum. As an important example of the master’s early output, high-quality digital prints of this French drawing are often made available to the public through public domain status, ensuring wide access to Delacroix's varied artistic heritage beyond his major oil works.