"Ah! Sir... you shouldn't laugh at him like that..." 1848

Curator: This is Honoré Daumier's lithograph, "Ah! Sir... you shouldn't laugh at him like that..." It's a potent image, now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My immediate response is somber. The figures are draped in shadow, and the lawyer’s exaggerated gesture, it feels mocking rather than reassuring. Curator: Indeed. Daumier often used caricature to critique the French legal system. The widow and orphan, vulnerable, are positioned almost as props in the lawyer’s theatrical performance. Editor: The lawyer’s wild eyes and outstretched hands remind me of theatrical villains in morality plays – a representation of corrupted justice. Curator: Exactly, and his exaggerated features draw attention to the perceived hypocrisy within the judicial system. Daumier was often censored for works like this. Editor: It's a lasting comment on the power dynamics at play, and how those in power can prey on the vulnerable, the symbolism is biting. Curator: He truly used his artwork as a powerful form of social commentary. Editor: It leaves one pondering the true nature of justice, doesn't it?