[1] The painting was created in 1871, in the aftermath of the French defeat at the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune, and it testifies to his dark historical context.

At first sight, the painting surprises with its uniform and almost monochrome appearance, which underlines an atmosphere of desolation and death, with corpses on a battlefield and burning cities on the horizon.

[2][3] The two central figures have a strong symbolism, and with their presence the work tries to reach the unspeakable: a winged figure, possibly representing the angel of Humanity, or perhaps Consciousness, is on his knees before the Sphinx, begging her to reveal the reason for the eternal enigma which causes conflict and war between men.

[4][5][6] In 1884, the painting was exhibited at the posthumous sale of the artist's works, with two similarly themed canvases The Black Eagle of Prussia and The Defense of Paris, all three under the common title Souvenirs de 1870.

During the sale of the painter's works, it was accompanied by two verses by Victor Hugo, excerpts from his poem "At the Arc de Triomphe" from Les Voix Interieures (1837), chosen by Doré himself: "What a spectacle!