Le Dernier du Télémaque

Honoré Daumier

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a group of four men and one woman standing on the deck of a ship. The woman is leaning forward while holding onto a barrel or large coil of rope, both hands resting on it. The men, all wearing top hats and coats, stand to her right, with one of them gesturing with a pointing hand. The man in the centre has a prominent fur collar and is looking towards the left side of the image. The woman has her back to the viewer, showing dark, styled hair pulled into an updo. In the background, the sea can be seen stretching into the distance, with a smaller boat carrying two people who appear to be rowing. A mast and some rigging are visible to the right. The composition suggests a moment of observation or interaction involving those on the ship and the smaller boat on the sea. The drawing contains handwritten notes and a border suggesting it may be a draft or unfinished piece.