"Let him speak ill of you..." 1847

Editor: This lithograph, "Let him speak ill of you..." by Honoré Daumier, looks like it's capturing a courtroom scene. It's quite stark, and the figures seem weighed down. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, Daumier! He’s like a fly on the wall of 19th-century French society, buzzing with satire. Notice how he uses light and shadow—the darkness almost seems to swallow the vulnerable figure on the left, while the lawyer looms, a silhouette of power. What do you think that contrast suggests? Editor: Perhaps the helplessness of the common person against the legal system? Curator: Precisely! Daumier’s poking fun, but it’s a pointed jab. He makes you wonder who's really on trial here – the individual, or the system itself? Editor: It's definitely food for thought. I'll never look at courtroom dramas the same way again!