Ontslagen kapitein van de Nationale Garde 1843

This lithograph, "Ontslagen kapitein van de Nationale Garde" (Dismissed Captain of the National Guard), created in 1843 by French artist Honoré Daumier, exemplifies his masterful use of satire. The caricature depicts a man, likely a former military official, standing in an empty room, his shoulders slumped with despair. The chair, draped with a cloak, serves as a poignant symbol of his lost authority, further emphasizing the irony of his demotion. Daumier's work was known for its sharp social commentary, and this piece is a prime example of his critique of the political landscape of his time.