"A whirlwind of smoke and ashes seizes the air you breathe." from the Little Miseries of Human Life 1843

In this lithograph by J. J. Grandville, made in France in the mid-19th century, the overwhelming presence of smoke transcends a mere domestic mishap. It embodies chaos and obscured vision, enveloping a man struggling with the mundane task of lighting a fire. Consider the swirling smoke—it is reminiscent of the "Nebula" or "Chaos" found in ancient cosmologies, representing primordial disorder before the cosmos took form. This motif appears in various cultures; think of the swirling mists in William Blake's illustrations or even the chaotic battle scenes in Renaissance paintings, each echoing themes of struggle and transformation. The smoke reminds us of the pervasive human condition, the fog that clouds our judgment and daily lives. It is a powerful visual metaphor for the challenges of existence, engaging our subconscious recognition of life’s inevitable struggles. The gesture is not new. It reflects an age-old confrontation with existential discomfort. The motif has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings through time.