Les Avocats c. 1862

Honoré Daumier sketched "Les Avocats," capturing two lawyers in their somber attire. Their dark robes and the archaic headdress are symbols steeped in tradition, meant to convey authority and uphold justice, yet here, they seem to cloak something far more ambiguous. Consider the gesture of the lawyer in the foreground, his hand raised slightly, perhaps in contemplation or calculation. It echoes the gestures of orators throughout history, from ancient Roman senators to figures in Renaissance paintings. Yet, here, it feels less about truth and more about strategy. Daumier, with a keen eye for the human condition, suggests how symbols of law and order can become tools in a far more complex, human drama. The robes and gestures are not just about justice; they are about power, performance, and the subtle dance of deception.