Le Toucher

Honoré Daumier

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of an elderly figure holding a young figure across their lap. The image shows an elderly character with a stern expression, draped in a shawl, clutching twigs. The young figure appears to be attempting to shield themselves. The setting is a domestic interior with simple furnishings; a bottle and bowl sit on a table to the left, and there are various objects on a shelf to the right. A framed silhouette of a figure decorates the wall above. The drawing portrays a tense scene filled with conflict and emotion, depicting rough dynamics and domestic life common in satirical art during this period.