Two Grand Dukes Leaving for Sebastopol, plate 166 from Actualités 1855

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, titled "Two Grand Dukes Leaving for Sebastopol," as part of his "Actualités" series. The composition is dominated by the figure of a grand duke whose body is defined by strong, curved lines, contrasted with the sharp, straight lines of the birdcage he carries. His exaggerated form suggests a critique of power and authority. Above him, two owls take flight, rendered with looser, sketchier lines, in a more active part of the composition. Daumier's strategic use of line and form serves as a powerful visual commentary. The grand duke's static pose and the rigid structure of the cage symbolize the constraints and absurdities of political power, while the soaring owls represent freedom. The contrast in texture and direction creates a dynamic tension, destabilizing the established meanings associated with political figures. This lithograph invites us to question the nature of power, representation, and the values they uphold.