And They Want to Catch Up with the Train! 1870

Curator: Daumier’s lithograph, “And They Want to Catch Up with the Train!”, presents us with a rather humorous scene. What's your first impression? Editor: The carriage, struggling against the modern train, feels like a perfect metaphor for the futility of clinging to outdated systems! There’s such a sense of absurdity in the attempt. Curator: Absolutely. The lumbering coach, labeled “Extra Parliamentary Commission”, is being outpaced by the train, a symbol of "Progress." It’s a commentary on political figures lagging behind the times. Editor: The horse's strained muscles, the commission's name written on the carriage, and the distant train—Daumier layers visual cues, evoking the widening gap between tradition and modernity. They're literally going in opposite directions! Curator: The faces, too, are telling. The passengers in the carriage appear stuffy and out of touch, while the train represents forward movement. Editor: It all points to the stubbornness of resisting change, doesn't it? A resistance that feels both sadly comic and deeply ingrained in the social fabric. Curator: I agree. It's as resonant today as it must have been then!