Le bon temps est passé ... c. 19th century

This print by Honoré Daumier captures the melancholic mood of disenchanted figures, likely made in the mid-19th century. The dominant symbol here is the downcast gaze, a motif that echoes throughout art history, representing sorrow, introspection, and the burden of thought. Notice how these figures stand with a posture reminiscent of mourners, a stance that hearkens back to ancient Roman funerary sculpture, where the veiled faces and stoic bearing conveyed a sense of grief and solemnity. The crossing of arms, a gesture repeated across time from the sculptures of ancient leaders to depictions of Christ in sorrow. The emotional weight of this image resonates on a subconscious level, tapping into our collective memory of loss and reflection. The artist's use of shadow and line further emphasizes the psychological depth, drawing us into the inner world of these figures. It is a cycle of expression, continuously resurfacing to reflect our shared human experience.