The Three Judges
1858/60
Medium
Watercolor and brush and black gouache, with charcoal, heightened with gray gouache, over touches of graphite, on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
36.3 × 53.8 cm (14 5/16 × 21 3/16 in.)
Classification
watercolor
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
151548
Art Historical Context
Honoré Daumier, a master of 19th-century French caricature and social commentary, created *The Three Judges* around 1858–60. This watercolor and gouache work on ivory laid paper captures his signature satirical bite, skewering the pompous French judiciary during the Second Empire under Napoleon III. Daumier, who produced over 4,000 lithographs critiquing corruption and inequality, often targeted lawyers and judges, portraying them as grotesque figures more interested in self-importance than justice. Rendered in a dynamic mix of watercolor, black and gray gouache, charcoal, and graphite, the 3...
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...