Karikatuur van Mars en Venus in het net van Vulcanus 1842

Honoré Daumier created this caricature of Mars and Venus in the net of Vulcanus as a lithograph. The stark black lines on pale paper immediately draw your eye to the foreground. The coarse net binds a seated couple, their figures rendered with a rough, almost brutal honesty. Daumier employs a semiotic system, using visual components that mock classical ideals. The scene is far from heroic. Instead, the artist presents a satirical commentary on love and betrayal. The figures are devoid of grace, caught both literally and figuratively in a trap. Vulcanus and his procession emerge from the horizon, exposing the deceit. The raw texture achieved through lithography enhances the critique, challenging any romanticized view. The net, a symbol of entrapment, highlights Daumier’s engagement with themes of power and representation. By subverting classical narratives, Daumier invites us to question established meanings and reflect on human nature.