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Artwork

Il parait... que mon gaillard est un grand scélérat...

Honoré Daumier , 1848

Il parait... que mon gaillard est un grand scélérat..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1848
Il parait... que mon gaillard est un grand scélérat..., by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1848

Il parait... que mon gaillard est un grand scélérat... is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1848 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1848, this lithograph by Honoré Daumier captures a moment of satirical commentary amid France’s turbulent political climate. The image presents a cramped interior where a smug, judge‑like figure holds a rolled document while a laboring man bears a heavy load. A French caption below mocks legal triumph, reflecting Daumier’s critical eye toward authority.

Subject & Meaning

The composition juxtaposes two contrasting characters: a dignified man in a black coat and judicial hat, whose self‑satisfied expression suggests a victorious defense, and a bent laborer struggling under weight, symbolizing the burden of the accused. The caption, phrased as a boastful lawyer’s claim, satirizes the manipulation of justice and the acquittal of a presumed criminal.

Technique & Style

Executed as a lithograph, the work employs the medium’s characteristic bold lines and stark contrasts to emphasize the cramped space and the figures’ gestures. Daumier’s loose, sketch‑like drawing style conveys immediacy, while the limited tonal range heightens the scene’s claustrophobic atmosphere and underscores the caricatural exaggeration of the judge’s grin.

History & Provenance

Daumier, renowned for his caricatures in periodicals such as *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*, produced this print during the revolutionary fervor surrounding the 1848 French Republic. Though primarily known for his paintings and sculptures, his prints circulated widely, disseminating his republican critique of the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy throughout the mid‑19th century.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Honoré Daumier

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Honoré-Victorin Daumier was a French painter, sculptor, and printmaker, whose many works offer commentary on the social and political life in France, from the Revolution of 1830 to the fall of the Second French Empire in 1870.

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of National Gallery of Art. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.