Oh! M'sieu l'avocat, tachez de ... c. 19th century

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph titled "Oh! M'sieu l'avocat, tachez de..." with dynamic lines and tonal contrasts to capture a scene of social satire. The composition is dominated by three figures: two women urgently addressing a lawyer. Daumier masterfully uses the lithographic medium to create a sense of immediacy. The rapid, scribbled lines articulate the women’s agitated postures and expressions. The lawyer, rendered with denser, darker strokes, stands as a pillar of legal authority, yet his gesture suggests a degree of helplessness or perhaps calculation. The artist employs a semiotic system, in which clothing acts as a signifier of social class and urgency. The contrasts in shading create a visual hierarchy, subtly emphasizing the power dynamics at play. Daumier challenges the viewer to consider the social structures influencing these characters, rather than merely depicting a literal courtroom scene. The piece functions as a critical commentary on contemporary society and the changing roles within it.