Composition avec de nombreux personnages 

Narcisse-Virgilio Diaz created this drawing, Composition avec de nombreux personnages, with graphite on paper in the 19th century. Diaz, who was of Spanish Romani heritage, often explored themes of identity and marginalization in his work. In this sketch, a cluster of figures are loosely rendered, their forms overlapping and indistinct. The lack of clear definition invites us to consider the complexities of collective identity. Are we looking at a gathering, a crowd, or a community? The ambiguity here reflects the fluidity of social relationships and the challenges of representing diverse experiences. Diaz's Romani background likely influenced his sensitivity to issues of belonging and exclusion. Although his work has been critiqued for orientalist stereotypes, it also offers glimpses into the lives of those on the periphery. This sketch, with its emphasis on human connection, suggests the artist's desire to find solidarity within shared experiences.