Ah! Pauv' Madame Chaffarou ...

Honoré Daumier

National Gallery of Art

The image depicts two elderly women standing facing each other. Both women are hunched over slightly, with their arms close to their bodies, and looking towards each other. The woman on the left has a large, pointed nose and a pronounced chin, wearing a shawl or cap. The woman on the right has similar exaggerated features with a slightly open mouth and wears a headscarf. Both are dressed in long, draped clothing resembling dark, heavy robes or cloaks. They stand on a plain ground with no detailed elements around them. In the background, on the left, there is a celestial body resembling a sun with a face and a witch-like hat, emitting rays of light. On the right, a comet-like figure with a dragon's head and a smoky tail appears, surrounded by bright lines indicating movement or impact. The background has a textured, cloudy appearance.