Excursion Trains: When after Ten Fruitless Attempts, One Finally Wins a Seat... 1864

Curator: This lithograph, by Honoré Daumier, is titled "Excursion Trains: When after Ten Fruitless Attempts, One Finally Wins a Seat...". It seems to capture a rather frantic scene. Editor: Absolutely, there's a palpable sense of chaos and desperation in the composition. The jostling crowd, all vying for a spot on that train, it speaks volumes about the social pressures and aspirations of the time. Curator: Daumier often used his art to critique the bourgeoisie, and this image is ripe with commentary on the emerging leisure class and their pursuit of pleasure, particularly within the context of rapidly industrializing France. Editor: Look at the way the figures are rendered, though. The exaggerated expressions, the almost grotesque features, it really hits at the dark underbelly of leisure and access, right? Who gets to partake in this so-called "pleasure," and at what cost? Curator: Exactly. The lithograph becomes a mirror reflecting not just the physical struggle for a seat, but the broader social inequities and the anxieties of a society in flux. Editor: It's a potent reminder that even leisure can be a battleground, shaped by issues of class and access. A relevant observation, even today. Curator: Indeed, considering the historical and social context, this lithograph offers so much food for thought about how we experience and understand leisure, class, and even the commute! Editor: Well, I appreciate how Daumier makes accessible something that may at first seem like nothing more than another hectic day on the train.