“- I really gave you a good dressing down... - And I didn't mince matters in my reply.... - We were both excellent... - We were superbe. It's really only in the Palace of Justice that people know how to argue and call each other all kinds of names without really getting angry...,” plate 8 from Les Gens De Justice 1845

Curator: This print is by Honoré Daumier, made in 1845. Its full title is a quote: "—I really gave you a good dressing down… —And I didn’t mince matters in my reply… —We were both excellent… —We were superb. It’s really only in the Palace of Justice that people know how to argue and call each other all kinds of names without really getting angry…" From his series "Les Gens de Justice." Editor: Immediately, the stark contrast of light and shadow strikes me. Daumier has rendered these figures with incredible depth using what appears to be primarily pencil and lithography on paper, giving the work a quality both immediate and considered. Curator: Absolutely. Daumier's work, particularly his lithographs, often uses exaggerated features and body language to critique social types. Here, the two legal figures embody a ritualized exchange, almost a performance. Their robes, voluminous and heavy, add to this sense of theatricality, symbolic of their profession. Editor: Note the masterful use of line. The agitated, almost scribbled quality conveys a tension in the scene despite the conversational subject. Look how the direction of lines models their forms, defining the contours of their faces and the folds of their garments. The details add depth and shadow creating texture and dimension, contributing to the overall sense of weight and volume. Curator: Exactly! The legal setting amplifies the symbolic weight. Daumier is tapping into the societal role of the judiciary, suggesting a certain performance aspect within their profession and hinting at the potentially absurd rituals. These figures represent something much larger than themselves; they become representations of law and justice, but seen through a critical, almost cynical, lens. The exaggerated posture adds to the sense of character being satirized. Editor: Ultimately, beyond any overt symbolic reading, this print presents a fascinating formal exercise. Daumier masterfully controls value, light, and composition to convey complex emotion with sparse means. This allows viewers to explore how effective simple compositions with thoughtful lines can be for portraits and expressions. Curator: Indeed, it's a striking commentary on human interaction, performed through the symbolic weight of professional roles. Editor: And formally intriguing, proving Daumier’s deft hand.