The Affectionate Farewell, or Kick for Kick

James Gillray's "The Affectionate Farewell, or Kick for Kick," a print created in 1814, offers a satirical take on the complex relationship between Napoleon and Talleyrand. Here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, we can observe this humorous scene where a larger-than-life Talleyrand delivers a swift kick to Napoleon's backside, sending his bicorne hat tumbling into the water below. The scene unfolds against a backdrop of a cloudy sky and a gallows ominously labeled "The Isle of Elba." Gillray masterfully uses bright, lively colors and an even distribution of light to emphasize the comical nature of the situation.