Garçon!... garçon!... allons il est décidé... 1852

Here we see a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, a commentary on society in 19th-century France. It's titled "Garçon!... garçon!... allons il est décidé...," roughly translating to "Waiter!... waiter!... come on, it's decided..." The scene depicts a disgruntled group of travelers on a 'train de plaisir', seemingly a leisure train, expressing their dissatisfaction with the service. Daumier often used his art to critique the bourgeoisie, and here, we see a jab at their impatience and entitlement. The exaggerated expressions and body language of the characters reveal a sense of urgency and annoyance. Consider the gaunt woman on the right, perhaps representing the upper class, seemingly immune to the chaos, highlighting the varying experiences within the same social class. Daumier's focus was on capturing the emotional truth of a moment, saying, "...one must be of one's time." This piece invites reflection on how leisure and travel are experienced differently across social strata, echoing contemporary issues of access and privilege.