Ayant eu ... l'idée d'aller ... c. 19th century

This lithograph by Honoré Daumier presents us with a seemingly simple scene of a couple gazing out of a window. But observe the window itself – a motif that recurs across art history, serving as a profound symbol of introspection and the liminal space between the inner world and the outer reality. The act of looking out a window, while seemingly passive, carries a weight of yearning. The figures echo those found in German Romanticism, such as Caspar David Friedrich's works, where solitary figures contemplate nature, reflecting on the self and the sublime. The couple's somber mood, juxtaposed with the idea of a 'happy idea to spend spring in the countryside,' is a powerful emotional undercurrent, engaging us on a deep, subconscious level. The window, therefore, becomes more than just a frame; it is a mirror reflecting our desires, our frustrations, and our eternal search for meaning in the landscapes both within and without. These symbols are not linear, instead they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, reminding us of the cyclical progression of human experience.