Et ... Voila ...Les voyageurs qui nous passent devant le nez! c. 19th century

This lithograph was made in France in 1869 by Honoré Daumier. Daumier's caricatures are renowned for their sharp wit, which he used to critique the social and political climate of his time. Here, two figures with comically elongated noses stand beside a sign reading “Poste aux chevaux,” or “horse post.” In the background, a train rushes past. The title translates to “And to think that now all the travelers pass right under our noses!” The image creates meaning through its stark contrast between the old and the new. Daumier is commenting on the displacement of traditional modes of transport by the advent of the railway. This critique is characteristic of the period's anxieties surrounding industrialization and its impact on established ways of life. By examining the publications Daumier contributed to, along with other social commentaries of the period, we can gain a deeper understanding of the cultural anxieties of the time. Art is often a product of institutional change and social movements, and this print is a perfect example of how we can study this relationship.