Une Panique a la bourse c. 19th century

This lithograph by Honoré Daumier depicts the chaos of a stock market crash. The raised arms and contorted faces of the figures immediately bring to mind the ancient gesture of supplication. Consider the supplicant— arms raised to the heavens, a plea for mercy or intervention. This motif echoes through time, seen in ancient sculptures and Renaissance paintings alike. Here, however, Daumier subverts this sacred gesture. Instead of seeking divine aid, these figures wave worthless papers, symbols of earthly wealth turned to dust. There is a deep psychological element in the way the figures are arranged: a desire to escape the scene. It evokes a sense of impending doom and collective hysteria, like a modern-day Dance of Death. The print captures a moment of collective frenzy, where reason is abandoned in the face of financial ruin. This image serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of human emotions and how certain symbols and gestures can carry profound meaning across cultures and eras.