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Pierrot in Criminal Court

Thomas Couture

1867

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Genre Scene

Dominant colour

Pierrot in Criminal Court is a 1867 unspecified by Thomas Couture, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Thomas Couture
When & what style?: 1867 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This painting shows Pierrot, the sad clown, in a crowded courtroom. He stands accused, his stolen bread and cheese spilling on the floor. Harlequin, his flamboyant lawyer, gestures wildly while the judges look bored. Couture used these famous clowns to mock the legal system of his time. The poor get no justice here—just a show. Check out Thomas Couture (French, 1815–1879) next.