Merope. “A soldier of my stature is quite able to run the state once defended with so much fun,” plate 2 from Physionomies Tragiques (recto); Provost. (dans le Puff - Thtre Français) "Le Puff, est l'art de semer et de faire èclore á son profit la chose qui n'est pas" (verso) c. 1851

"Merope" is a lithograph from Honoré Daumier’s series *Physionomies Tragiques* created in 1851. The work depicts two figures, a soldier in a helmet with a plume and a woman, both in a state of agitation, with the soldier pointing at the woman, creating a visually dynamic composition. The drawing is characterized by Daumier’s signature style, which used exaggerated features and bold lines to depict the human form, giving the work a satirical and expressive quality. This particular print is a commentary on the political and social climate of France in the mid-19th century.