Perdu, monsieur... perdu sur tous les points... 1845

Here is the audio guide script for the artwork provided: Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, “Perdu, monsieur… perdu sur tous les points…”—part of his series, “Les Gens de Justice”—to critique the legal profession. Visually, it presents a stark contrast: a stout lawyer in billowing robes confronts a disheveled client. The lawyer's dark, voluminous attire dominates the composition, its heavy lines suggesting an imposing figure, literally and figuratively weighing down the scene. Daumier employs a semiotic language through contrasting shapes and sizes to convey power dynamics. The lawyer’s exaggerated form, captured with thick, assertive lines, faces off against the client’s comparatively diminutive and weakly defined figure. These formal choices are not merely aesthetic; they function as a critical commentary on the perceived injustices and avarice within the legal system. The print uses line and form to undermine conventional respect for legal authority, suggesting it's a system where justice is a commodity. This challenges fixed meanings of justice and professionalism, critiquing social structures through visual satire.