Ils vont un train d'enfer ... c. 19th century

Editor: This is Honoré Daumier's lithograph, "Ils vont un train d'enfer...", from the 19th century. The title roughly translates to "They're Going at a Devil of a Pace." It features an elderly couple staring at a distant factory spewing smoke. There’s a real feeling of… resignation here, wouldn’t you say? What does it bring to your mind? Curator: That sense of resignation, I think, is key. Daumier was deeply invested in documenting the societal shifts during the Industrial Revolution in France. Notice the juxtaposition of the older generation with the burgeoning industry. It highlights anxieties about progress. Do you see how the industrial landscape contrasts with the human figures in the foreground? Editor: Absolutely. They seem almost dwarfed by the scene and the couple's antiquated clothing further emphasises their distance from the industrial present. Were lithographs a popular medium for social commentary at this time? Curator: Indeed. Lithography allowed for mass production, making it a powerful tool to disseminate commentary to a wider audience. Daumier, in particular, frequently used his work to critique the social and political landscape, and "Ils vont un train d'enfer..." fits neatly within this tradition, examining anxieties about the relentless pace of industrialization. Look closer at their clothes! Notice they have dark and aged coloring, to indicate how obsolete the factory has made them. Editor: So, it’s less a celebration of industry, and more a cautionary tale? Curator: Precisely. Daumier uses the advancements in technology and modern innovations, but, instead of depicting them as promising, he critiques industrial advancement from the vantage of an older, possibly obsolete, generation. It questions what we gain, and what we lose in this industrial metamorphosis. Editor: I see. That makes the "devil of a pace" in the title all the more meaningful. I initially read it as something energetic but hearing this I wonder, is that title somewhat sarcastic, implying there’s almost something infernal about this industrial progress? Curator: Exactly! That’s the complexity Daumier brings to the table. His work invites you to interrogate who benefits from societal changes and whose perspectives are overshadowed. I am pleased to hear your interpretations! Editor: This has completely transformed my understanding. I now appreciate Daumier’s critique and the historical anxieties baked into the artwork. Thanks so much!