"And... there... the travelers who pass right before our noses!" 1843

Curator: This lithograph by Honoré Daumier is titled "And... there... the travelers who pass right before our noses!" It's part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: Oh, it's deliciously cynical! Look at those noses, practically impaling the horizon line. Curator: Daumier was a master of caricature, exaggerating features to critique society. Notice how the figures are rigidly posed, almost as if they're monuments to their own self-importance. Editor: The train chugging along in the background feels like a mocking reminder of progress, doesn't it? Are these figures missing the boat, or rather, the train? Curator: Perhaps they’re too absorbed in themselves to see it. The "Poste aux Chevaux" sign adds a touch of irony, highlighting the contrast between old and new transportation. Editor: It’s brilliant, the way Daumier uses line to create such a scathing social commentary. It’s aged remarkably well, wouldn't you say? Curator: Indeed. It's a timeless snapshot of human folly, rendered with a deft hand and a sharp wit.