Looking at the Comet till you get a Criek in the Neck.

NAPOLEAN”S COMET

Early satirical print depicting a domestic scene of an older man, wearing a dressing gown and night-cap, looking out of a window with a spyglass at the comet of that year. He fails to notice the romantic scene between a young woman and man. This is a common allegory, in which those with an interest in astronomy are so distracted by other-worldly thoughts that they fail to see what is going on under their noses.

The first historical comet linked with Napoleon was the Great Comet of 1769 (known also as Napolean’s Comet)  and which had an unusuallly red luster and a tail spanning spanning 60 degrees. Napolean’s supporters viewed it as a triumphant sign of his glorious reign. When the second Great Comet appeared in 1811 it was also name Napolean’s Comet and was enthusiastically greetd by Napoleon as his guiding star and the controller of his destiny.

The print was published during the long period when the great comet of 1811 (now known as C/18111 W1) was visible (the comet was visible telescopically from 25 March 1811 to 17 August 1812, and with the naked eye 11 April 1811 to 20 January 1812).