Artwork
Two Lawyers
Two Lawyers is a crayon drawing by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1844, *Two Lawyers* is a drawing executed with crayon, stump, and a gray‑orange wash on laid paper. The work presents a pair of robed figures positioned before an indistinct crowd, their gestures suggesting a brief exchange. Daumier’s handling is loose and energetic, employing bold outlines and muted tonal contrasts to convey immediacy.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on two legal professionals, their attire marking them as members of the judiciary. By placing them amid a vague assemblage of onlookers, Daumier invites reflection on the public role of lawyers and the authority they embody within French society of the mid‑nineteenth century.
Technique & Style
Daumier combines crayon drawing with a stump for softening, and applies a subtle gray‑orange wash to model form. The drawing’s chiaroscuro—light and shadow—creates a sense of depth, while the expressive line work emphasizes movement and the fleeting nature of the scene.
History & Provenance
The piece emerges from Daumier’s early period, when he was establishing himself as a satirical commentator through caricatures and illustrations for periodicals such as *La Caricature* and *Le Charivari*. Though primarily known for prints, this paper drawing reflects his parallel practice in fine drawing.
Context
In the 1840s France, the legal profession was a visible symbol of state authority, often scrutinized by republican critics. Daumier’s choice to depict lawyers aligns with his broader engagement with political and social subjects, using humor and observation to question institutional power.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
