The Strolling Players c. 19th century

William Orpen made this sketch titled, "The Strolling Players" using pencil. Orpen worked during a time when Irish artists were exploring national identity in the face of British imperialism. Here, Orpen portrays the itinerant lives of performers, hinting at the emotional toll of a life spent on the margins. The seated figure seems lost in thought, removed from the performative self. This melancholic figure suggests the artist's concern with the human condition, marked by moments of both performance and vulnerability. The sketch captures the transient nature of existence, as the figures are caught between roles, hinting at the struggles of identity. Orpen doesn’t provide a clear narrative, but through the emotional weight of the figures, he draws our attention to those whose lives existed outside of the mainstream.