The artwork, titled “Mmrs Cobden, Bright and Sturges Had Nothing to do in Europe, Sailed to Go Pacify” by the artist Honore Daumier, is a vivid caricature that belongs to the Realism art movement. It is housed in Château de Compiègne, Compiègne, France.
In this artwork, three figures are depicted in a humorous and exaggerated fashion, which is characteristic of a caricature. The figures are shown embarking towards a sailboat that waits by the shore, one of them dressed in a checked suit, leading the group with exaggerated confidence. The figure in the middle, stout and laden, follows somewhat reluctantly, while the trailing figure, also hefty, appears to bring up the rear with a sense of resignation. They proceed towards a ship in the background, suggesting departure for a distant pacifying mission. The detailed line work and expressive postures of the characters exemplify Daumier’s skill in satire and social commentary.
