"Lost, sir... Lost on all counts..." 1845

Editor: This is "Lost, sir... Lost on all counts...", by Honoré Daumier. I’m struck by the contrast between the dejected man and the lawyer. What symbols stand out to you in this image? Curator: I see the lawyer's robes and books not as symbols of justice but as heavy burdens, almost trapping him. The other man's limp hat hints at defeat, but the smoke above his head suggests lingering hope, or perhaps just stubbornness. Editor: So, the symbols are not straightforward, but laden with irony? Curator: Precisely. Daumier uses these familiar images to explore the psychological weight of the legal system, suggesting a loss of faith in its promises. It is a dark reflection of the times. Editor: I see it now - symbols can have a very complex relationship to reality.