Artwork
Les Deux Avocats
Les Deux Avocats is an oil painting by the Realist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1856 and is held in the collection of the Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection.
About this work
The artist has used a range of colors, from dark browns and blacks to lighter tans and grays.
This painting shows two men in dark robes and hats, standing in front of a wall. The man on the right is turned slightly towards the man on the left, who is looking at him. The wall behind them is light-colored, with a darker section on the left.
The men's faces are serious, and their robes are formal. The painting's style is loose and expressive, with visible brushstrokes. The artist has used a range of colors, from dark browns and blacks to lighter tans and grays.
The painting is a portrait of two men, likely from the 19th century. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, look up Honoré Daumier.
Overview
Painted in 1856 by Honoré Daumier, Les Deux Avocats is an oil on canvas work depicting two men in formal attire. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich. Its composition centers on a quiet, almost confrontational exchange between the figures, rendered with a loose, tactile brushwork that emphasizes texture over detail. The background is simplified, drawing focus to the subjects and their psychological presence.
Subject & Meaning
The two figures are dressed in dark, judicial robes, suggesting they are legal professionals. Their serious expressions and rigid postures convey a sense of solemnity, possibly commenting on the formality and emotional restraint of the legal profession. Daumier does not idealize them; instead, he presents them as ordinary men burdened by their roles, hinting at the weight of duty and social expectation in 19th-century France.
Technique & Style
Daumier employed a vigorous, expressive brush technique, with visible strokes that define form through tone rather than precise line. He used a restrained palette of dark browns, grays, and muted tans, contrasting with a pale, uneven wall behind them. The chiaroscuro effect is subtle but effective, enhancing the three-dimensionality of the figures and deepening the somber mood without dramatic lighting.
History & Provenance
Created during Daumier’s mature period, the painting was likely produced after his years as a political caricaturist, reflecting his shift toward more introspective portraiture. It entered the Kunsthaus Zürich’s collection in the early 20th century, possibly through acquisitions of French Realist works. Its provenance remains largely unbroken since its creation, with no record of public exhibition prior to its museum acquisition.
Context
In mid-19th century France, the legal profession was increasingly visible in public life, yet often criticized for its rigidity and detachment. Daumier, long attuned to social institutions, turned his attention to the quiet rituals of lawyers, avoiding satire in favor of psychological observation. This work aligns with broader Realist trends that sought to portray everyday figures with dignity and nuance.
Legacy
Les Deux Avocats stands as an example of Daumier’s transition from caricature to serious portraiture. It influenced later artists interested in the emotional weight of ordinary professions. Though less known than his satirical prints, the painting is recognized for its restrained power and its contribution to the evolution of modern French realism in painting.
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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.
