This cartoon is one of several created by French satirist Honoré Daumier making fun of the great comet of 1857 that never was. This lithograph shows Monsier Babinet (a popularist scientist) looking for the comet in the wrong place ignoring the housekeeper's attempts to get his attention. The original caption reads, "Monsier Babinet prévenu par sa portiére de la visite de la comète."

(Photo from the collection of Don Yeomans.)