Chap. I: J'Arrive! (I Arrive!) 1824

Victor Adam made this lithograph called 'Chap. I: J'Arrive!' in France sometime in the first half of the 19th century. It shows two men arriving in a busy city. This image offers us a glimpse into the social fabric of 19th-century France, a period marked by significant shifts in population, economic structures, and cultural values. The Industrial Revolution was well underway and France was beginning to see increased urbanization, with people migrating from rural areas to cities in search of work. The two men pictured here were likely part of this trend. We can understand them as examples of new social types that were emerging at this time in France. The image's title suggests a sense of anticipation and arrival, reflecting the hopes and anxieties associated with urban migration. Looking closely at works such as this, alongside census data, newspapers, and other records, art historians build a richer picture of the past.