“- Monsieur, I quit your service, I am going home... I don't want to be here when the world ends,” plate 4 from La Cométe De 1857 1857

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph in 1857, as part of his series "La Comète De 1857," capturing a moment of social anxiety during a time of astronomical fascination. The lithograph reflects the cultural milieu of 19th-century France, marked by both scientific curiosity and superstitious dread. Daumier uses the impending comet as a backdrop to explore class tensions; a servant declares, “Monsieur, I quit your service, I am going home... I don't want to be here when the world ends.” The stark contrast between the well-to-do employer and the fleeing servant underscores the pervasive anxieties felt across different social strata. The servant, burdened with her belongings, embodies a raw, instinctual desire for safety, while the employer remains stoic, perhaps oblivious to the world’s end. Daumier masterfully blends social critique with personal sentiment, inviting us to consider how impending doom can amplify existing inequalities and emotional vulnerabilities.