Karikatuur van Daedalus en Icarus 1842

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph titled "Karikatuur van Daedalus en Icarus" in the 19th century. The scene is rendered in stark monochrome, where light and shadow define the forms and narrative. Our eyes are drawn to Daedalus in the foreground, his figure etched with deep, cross-hatched lines that convey both texture and emotion. The composition is structured around a visual contrast: the grounded, solid form of Daedalus versus the distant, falling figure of Icarus. Daumier uses the gaze of Daedalus, directed upwards through a telescope, to guide our eyes. The linear perspective, combined with the stark tonal range, enhances the dramatic tension. The fall of Icarus is a distant event. Daumier’s interest clearly lies in the psychological impact of the event on Daedalus, rather than the spectacle of Icarus's demise. This print is more than a retelling of myth, it's an investigation into human perception and the emotional weight of seeing, structured through the careful manipulation of line and form.