The artwork, titled “It’s true you have lost your case… but you should have gotten a lot of pleasure hearing me plead [your case],” is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier. Executed in the realism art movement, this piece falls under the genre painting category and is part of the series “Les Gens de justice.”
In the artwork, a lawyer is depicted with a self-satisfied expression, assertively posturing while seemingly consoling a client as they exit a courtroom. The client appears to be distraught, possibly hunched over, and their smaller stature contrasts sharply with the confident demeanor of the lawyer. The lawyer’s exaggerated and almost pompous stance highlights Daumier’s satirical approach, often characteristic of his comments on social and judicial issues. The simplicity and muted tones typical of lithography draw attention to the expressions and body language, emphasizing the dissonance between the lawyer’s smug assurance and the client’s evident despair. The hand-written text below the illustration reinforces the scene, pointing to the irony and social commentary Daumier is known for.
