Lawyer on His Way to Court (Se Rendant à l'Audience) 1830 - 1879

Here we see a graphite drawing on paper by Thomas Couture, titled Lawyer on His Way to Court. Couture lived through a time of immense social change and political upheaval in France, and he sought to capture the spirit of his age in his art. This sketch gives a sense of the everyday lives of those navigating the legal system. The lawyers, likely men given the historical context, are rendered with quick, expressive lines that capture their movement and perhaps their purpose. The sketch reflects societal structures, as professions like law were typically dominated by certain classes and genders. The artist’s choice to focus on this subject matter hints at questions of access to justice, representation, and the role of law in society. The image conveys a sense of purpose and the weight of responsibility these figures carried within their society.