daumier21 Honore Daumier (1808-1879)

The drawing presents a stark contrast between two figures set against a swirling, almost vortex-like background. On the left stands a man in formal attire – a dark coat and a tall, peaked hat – his posture rigid and his expression severe. He holds a document or ledger, from which numbers appear to emanate like spectral forms. These numbers are clearly dates: 1836, 1835, 1832, and 1830, suggesting a record of some kind, perhaps financial transactions or legal proceedings.
Facing him is a seated figure, seemingly impoverished. He wears simple clothing – a white shirt and a dark waistcoat – and leans against a rough-hewn wall. His gaze is directed towards the numbers floating from the man’s document, his expression one of weary resignation rather than defiance. A bandage is visible on his head, hinting at past injury or hardship.
The background itself is significant. The swirling grey tones create a sense of instability and chaos, visually representing perhaps the turbulent social and economic conditions of the time. It seems to envelop both figures, yet their separation remains distinct.
At the bottom of the composition, a phrase appears: Et pourtant elle marche (And yet it marches). This inscription suggests an unstoppable force – a system or process – that continues regardless of the suffering it inflicts on individuals like the seated man. The juxtaposition of the formally dressed figure and the impoverished one underscores themes of social inequality, economic exploitation, and the impersonal nature of bureaucratic systems. The dates emanating from the document imply a relentless march of time and progress that seems to disregard human cost. The drawing is not merely an observation but a commentary on the power dynamics at play within society.