Ulysse et Pénélope 1842

“Ulysse et Pénélope” is a lithograph by French artist Honoré Daumier from 1842. Daumier was known for his satirical lithographs and caricatures, and this work depicts a humorous take on the classic Greek myth of Odysseus and Penelope. The image shows a weary Odysseus, identified by the arrow hanging above the bed, looking with suspicion at Penelope as she watches him from above. The contrasting expressions on their faces and the presence of the arrow, a symbol of Odysseus’s return, create a playful commentary on the complexities of the relationship between the two figures.