"And to think that now, see how all the travelers passing under our noses!..." c. 19th century

Editor: This print by Honoré Daumier, titled "And to think that now, see how all the travelers passing under our noses!...", depicts caricatured figures watching a train. It seems to be commenting on societal change. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Daumier's lithograph critiques the bourgeoisie's reaction to industrialization, particularly the railway. Consider the figures' exaggerated features. How might they reflect the artist's social commentary on class and progress? Editor: Perhaps their elongated noses symbolize a snobbish attitude towards the changing world. Curator: Exactly. Daumier uses satire to expose the anxieties and contradictions of 19th-century French society. It speaks to broader questions about who benefits from progress and who is left behind. Editor: It’s interesting how a seemingly simple image can hold so much historical and social weight. Curator: Indeed, it reminds us to critically examine the power dynamics embedded within technological advancements.