Throughout his artistic career, Honoré Daumier struggled against the rigid censorship in Paris during the early-mid 19th century. Critical in nature, his satirical commentary on the government garnered negative attention and legal ramifications, forcing him to shift his gaze towards social critique. His work embodies the essence of Realism, as artists began to reject the ideas of Romanticism and turned to subjects of the social, political and economic structure of modern life. This piece, a part of the series L’histoire Ancienne (Stories from Antiquity) printed in the controversial newspaper Le Charivari, comments on the Bourgeoise fascination with Greek and Roman thought. Signaling the end of this infatuation, the once-strong and vibrant hero Telemachus’ stature echoes that of the wilting flowers as he is subdued by romantic love.
