C'est peut-être bon ... c. 19th century

Here we see Honoré Daumier's lithograph, "C'est peut-être bon..." The composition is immediately striking: a stark contrast between the figure on the left and the desolate scene to the right. Note the man's solid form, defined by dense, cross-hatched lines, against the skeletal horses and barren landscape rendered with sparse strokes. This juxtaposition establishes a visual tension, highlighting the man's detachment from the scene. Daumier uses line not just to depict, but to critique. The man's gaze, averted from the horses, suggests a refusal to acknowledge a harsh reality. Semiotically, the emaciated horses act as a signifier of broader societal decay. The lithograph's power lies in its formal ability to provoke social commentary through the interplay of line, form, and perspective, prompting reflection on themes of class, consumption, and the human condition.