Commencant a trouver que l'impèriale ... c. 19th century

Curator: Ah, I feel damp just looking at it. Daumier, our chronicler of 19th-century Parisian life, offers us "Commencant a trouver que l'imperiale," roughly, "Beginning to find the top of the omnibus isn't such a great invention after all." He crafted this image, probably a lithograph, around that time, showing the less glamorous side of modern transport. Editor: It's immediately oppressive. The rain practically slaps you in the face. The dark ink, the slumped postures of these figures... what are the iconographic markers of discontent here? Curator: Well, the rain itself acts as a pretty potent symbol. Water, especially rain, can represent purification or cleansing, but here, it feels like a deluge of misery. Those men perched atop the omnibus are isolated, even from each other. They’re literally above the fray, the 'imperiale' class perhaps, but their faces show discomfort, boredom, and a complete lack of enjoyment. Their high hats could be seen as markers of their social standing, which somehow, ironically, exacerbates the sense of alienated disaffection. Editor: It reminds me of a modern commuter's experience, crammed onto public transport, desperately avoiding eye contact with everyone else. I think Daumier taps into something universal about the human condition, about isolation amidst supposed connection. Also, all the umbrellas down below are quite suggestive! The image resonates even beyond its direct reference. But what makes his caricatures particularly sharp, wouldn't you say? Curator: His ability to highlight both the individual and the archetype is outstanding. In this print, each man carries a distinct, subtly observed world-weariness. Yet together, they symbolize a larger, shared experience. Daumier has this innate knack of conveying profound truths about human nature through satire. What I like too is that you get a certain sense of intimacy, like catching an unposed and true aspect of reality! Editor: Indeed. And that phrase from the title... "not so pleasant as I thought it would be." It mirrors something, maybe even echoes a contemporary experience – the gap between expectations and the real grind of our lives. Perhaps that's why this image speaks across centuries! Curator: Exactly. This quick glimpse into Parisian life remains piercingly familiar even today.