Karikatuur van Hercules in de stallen van Augias 1842

This lithograph by Honoré Daumier depicts Hercules in the Augean stables. The ancient Greek hero, tasked with cleaning the immense filth, stands here as a symbol of monumental labor. Consider the enduring motif of the 'heroic task'-- cleaning the Augean stables is not merely about physical labor; it represents the challenge of confronting corruption and decay. Observe Hercules' figure, rendered with a heavy brow and weary stance. In this image, Daumier connects to a long tradition of representing labor, from the myth of Hercules to depictions of toil in medieval tapestries. This is not just a story of a hero, but an allegory of the burden of governance. The symbol of the broom, in Daumier's hands, transforms from a simple tool into a potent emblem of reform and societal cleansing. The task, laden with its own kind of filth, stirs deep within us a recognition of the cyclical nature of such efforts throughout history, reminding us that the labor of Hercules is never truly done.