A rather unsatisfied litigant, plate 26 from Les Gens De Justice
Medium
Lithograph in black on white wove paper
Dimensions
Image: 23.4 × 19 cm (9 1/4 × 7 1/2 in.); Sheet: 34.5 × 26.3 cm (13 5/8 × 10 3/8 in.)
Classification
lithograph
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
61127
Art Historical Context
In 1846, French artist Honoré Daumier captured the frustrations of the legal system in *A rather unsatisfied litigant plate 26 from his renowned series *Les Gens de*. This lithograph wryly depicts a disgruntled figure emerging from court, embodying Daumier's sharp social satire on the inefficiencies and absurdities of 19th-century French justice under the July Monarchy. Daum, a master caricaturist, produced over 4,000 lithographs, his prints to critique corruption among lawyers, judges, and litigants, making complex societal issues accessible to the public through newspapers and affordable rep...
About the Artist
Honoré-Victorin Daumier · 1808–1879
Honoré-Victorin Daumier (1808-1879) was a prolific French printmaker, caricaturist, painter, and sculptor whose works offered incisive commentary on the social and political life of 19th-century France. Known as the 'Michelangelo of Caricature,' Daumier produced over 4,000 lithographs, 500 paintings, 1,000 drawings, and 100 sculptures during his lifetime. His biting political satire led to his imp...