Monday morning usually greets the world like the woman in this painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme. The figure of truth emerges from a well holding a scourge with which to shame and punish humankind. The image makes literal reference to a saying by the ancient Greek philosopher Democritus (ca. 460 BC – ca. 370 BC): “Truth lies at the bottom of a well." Some have interpreted the painting as a reference to the Dreyfus affair, while others discuss it in the context of a quote by Gérôme that "thanks to photography, Truth has finally left her well.” (http://wtfarthistory.com/post/25851106717/truth-coming-out-of-her-well)