Malheureux enfant! ... Ca t'appendra a faire ...

Honoré Daumier

National Gallery of Art

The image shows two individuals in the foreground, one facing slightly to the left, while a female figure emerges from the right with one arm raised. The central character, an older man with short hair and a full beard, is wearing formal attire. The accompanying figure seems to be a child with straight hair. Both are surrounded by water, possibly indicating a flood or a wet environment. The man is holding a duck. In the background, there is a woman with long flowing hair and a loose gown, standing on higher ground or a hill with both arms raised. Ducks are seen swimming or wading through the water around them. The setting suggests a rural scene, with a farmhouse in the distance and sparse vegetation.