Vrouw braakt vanaf een rijdende omnibus after 1826

This print by Joseph Ambroise Jobard depicts a woman vomiting from a moving omnibus. The scene is set against the backdrop of 19th-century social upheaval, fueled by industrialization and urbanization. The image captures a moment of visceral discomfort amidst the changing landscape of transportation and public life. The omnibus itself, a symbol of modernity and progress, becomes the site of bodily distress, highlighting the tensions between technological advancement and human experience. The woman's expulsion challenges traditional notions of feminine decorum, disrupting the idealized image of women in public spaces. Simultaneously, it alludes to the unequal distribution of resources and the varied experiences of individuals navigating the rapidly evolving urban environment. This print serves as a reminder of the complex and often contradictory nature of progress, prompting reflection on the human cost of modernization. It also invites us to confront the messy realities of embodiment and the ways in which social norms shape our perceptions of the body in public life.