Your client is a scoundrel, from 'Sketches,' published in Le Charivari, June 6, 1866
Original title: Your client is a scoundrel, from 'Sketches,' published in Le Charivari, June 6, 1866
kurzbeschreibung
Honoré Daumier's 1866 lithograph 'Your Client Is a Scoundrel' presents two lawyers in official dress engaged in conversation. The print belongs to the series 'Sketches', published in the satirical journal Le Charivari, and offers a characteristic example of the artist's critical view of the legal profession of his day.
Description
On the left, a figure seated behind a table presides; on the right, a lawyer stands with his hand raised, speaking. Both wear robes and sashes. A window opens onto a slice of street, and a clock hangs on the wall. A line of dialogue runs along the bottom edge. The black-and-white lithograph employs sharp, detailed lines.
Context
Daumier drew this sheet for Le Charivari, the French satirical magazine known for political and social caricature. The 'Sketches' series was devoted to the justice system and the legal profession—a subject that recurs throughout his work. Its publication on 6 June 1866 fell during the Second Empire under Napoleon III, when press freedom was restricted.
Impact
Clear line and pointed dialogue give the sheet an immediate wit. The lawyer's gesture and the layout drive the satire forward and prompt a smile. A critical attitude toward the legal machine is palpable.
Technique
Executed as a lithograph on newsprint, a process standard for caricatures in satirical magazines. Printed in black and white, it displays a fine, precise line. This is the second state of two (Delteil).
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)