A defence lawyer at the Court of Arbitration discussing business at his usual office premises, plate 27 from Les Gens De Justice 1846

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, titled 'A defense lawyer at the Court of Arbitration discussing business at his usual office premises' as plate 27 from Les Gens De Justice. The act of toasting, of raising a glass, has ancient roots. It can be traced back to libations offered to the gods in antiquity, a ritual of symbolic sacrifice and communion. Here, it is drained of its sacred meaning to become a sign of corruption. It shows two figures sealing a deal with a shared drink. It’s a motif that echoes through time; consider the Last Supper, where wine symbolizes a sacred oath. Yet, here, the toast is not of unity but of shady dealings. The very act of raising a glass—a gesture intended to convey goodwill—is twisted, laden with the weight of deception and moral decay. The dark humor serves as a mirror to the soul, reflecting the grim realities of human behavior.