Nouvelles positions prises par les russes ... c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, titled "Nouvelles positions prises par les russes...", showing the Russian military setbacks, perhaps in the Crimean war. Here, the officers' exaggerated costumes, especially the hats and boots, transform them into caricatures, echoing the *commedia dell'arte* tradition. These costumes—meant to symbolize authority and military might—are mocked through exaggeration. We see how traditional symbols of power, like the military uniform, become tools of satire. Observe the slumped posture of the officer at the table; he is in stark contrast to traditional depictions of military leaders as strong and upright. Such symbolism reminds us of similar depictions of defeated or disillusioned figures in art history, from classical sculptures of defeated warriors to modern anti-war statements. The gesture speaks to a universal understanding of defeat and disillusionment. The psychological impact of such imagery should not be underestimated. It taps into our collective memory of conflict.