Un train de plaisir aérien c. 19th century

This lithograph is by Honoré Daumier, a French printmaker, caricaturist, painter, and sculptor whose works offer commentary on social and political life in 19th-century France. Daumier’s “Un train de plaisir aérien,” or “An Aerial Pleasure Train,” captures the zeitgeist of a society grappling with rapid technological advancement. During this period, balloon flights were a novel spectacle and a symbol of modernity, but they also became fodder for satire. Daumier's image critiques the bourgeoisie’s eager embrace of these new forms of entertainment. Look at the faces of the passengers – their expressions suggest a mixture of displeasure and boredom. The artist’s commentary is evident, especially through the accompanying text where a passenger laments paying three hundred francs for the experience. Daumier masterfully encapsulates the often-disappointing reality behind the spectacle. The print reflects the growing pains of a society divided by class and defined by its pursuit of novel experiences.