Les deux grands ducs ... c. 19th century

"Les deux grands Ducs assistant à la bataille de Balaklava", a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, satirizes the Crimean War. The work, published in 1854, depicts two vultures perched on a hilltop, observing the battle below. The image critiques the Russian leadership, represented by the vultures, who seem indifferent to the carnage of the battle. Daumier was a prolific caricaturist known for his social commentary, using his art to expose corruption and injustice. This lithograph, with its stark contrasts and graphic imagery, serves as a powerful reminder of the devastation of war and the human cost of political ambition.