L'appel de leurs réserves 1870

Honoré Daumier's lithograph, "L'appel de leurs réserves," presents a stark image of conscription, embodying the anxieties of its time. The two soldiers represent the state, their dark, helmeted figures forcibly escorting a reluctant man away from his family. His outstretched arms and desperate gaze echo a primal scream against the impersonal machinery of war. This scene is reminiscent of ancient depictions of sacrifice, where individuals are offered to appease unseen powers. The gesture of supplication, common in classical art, resurfaces here, warped by the modern context of the print. Think of Laocoön's struggle against the serpents, or even Christ's agony in the Garden of Gethsemane; all reflect this deep, visceral fear of an inescapable fate. The image taps into collective memory, evoking the dread and helplessness felt across generations faced with such profound loss of control. The scene offers a view of a recurring nightmare, a symbol of human vulnerability throughout history.