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Scene in a Palace of Justice

Honoré Daumier

1844

chalk

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Scene in a Palace of Justice is a 1844 chalk by Honoré Daumier, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Honoré Daumier
When & what style?: 1844 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows two framed scenes on brown paper. On the left, three figures stand in what looks like a courtroom—one in a judge’s robes, another in a hat, and a third person in the back. The right frame depicts two people facing each other, one holding a sword. The lines are rough, and some areas have dark wash marks for shading. The paper is worn, with small tears and handwritten notes in the corners. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to capture movement and expressions, focusing on everyday drama. Next, look up Daumier, Honoré to see how he turned rough sketches into sharp social commentary.

About the artist

Artist

Honoré Daumier

Honoré-Victorin Daumier was a French painter, sculptor, and printmaker, whose many works offer commentary on the social and political life in France, from the Revolution of 1830 to the fall of the Second French Empire in 1870.

See the richer artist page