Un philosophe

Honoré Daumier

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a sketch of four men gathered around a table. Two men are at the center, one older with a balding head and the other with a fuller head of hair and a prominent nose. Both are depicted from the waist up. Behind them stands a bearded man with a stern expression and a hat. Another man is partially visible in the background. The table is bare except for a plate in front of the older man. The surroundings suggest a smoky atmosphere with amorphous cloud shapes overhead, possibly indicating a lively setting like a tavern or cafe.