1846
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Un Défenseur... causant... dans son cabinet habituel is a 1846 ink by Honoré Daumier, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows two men in a small, plain office. One is a well-dressed lawyer in a top hat, holding a glass and talking to the other man, who’s wearing a shabby coat and hat. The lawyer stands behind a simple wooden desk with a few papers on it, while the other man leans in, looking serious. The room has a window with faded curtains and a door in the background. The title hints this is about a lawyer handling cases in his usual office—maybe showing how justice works (or doesn’t) in everyday life. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to capture the moment, making it feel real and urgent. If you like this style, check out lithography to see how artists like Daumier made prints like this.
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 pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
