On the train, from 'The difficult moments of life,' published in Le Charivari, March 12, 1864

Art Historical Context

Honoré Daumier, a master of 19th-century French caricature, created *On the Train*, a lithograph from his series *The Difficult Moments Life*, published in the satirical newspaper *Le Charari* on March 12, 1864. printer Aaron Martinet and publisherouches, Daumier the awkward social encounters between men and women aboard the era's burgeoning train network—a symbol of modern progress amid France's Second Empire. This second-state impression on newsprint exemplifies Daumier's prolific output of over 4,000 lithographs, skewered bourgeois pretensions and everyday absurdities. Lithography's greasy crayon technique allowed Daumier to produce sharp, expressive lines ideal for mass circulation in periodicals like *Le Charivari*, founded in 1832 to lampoon politics and society. Here, the compact image (8 7/8 × 8 9/16 in.) conveys humor through exaggerated gestures and crowded compositions, highlighting the "difficult moments" of propriety in confined public spaces. Trains, rapidly expanding in mid-19th-century Europe, provided ripe fodder for satire on class tensions and gender dynamics. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Elisha Whittelsey Collection, this print showcases Daumier's enduring influence on visual satire, blending artistry with sharp social commentary. Visitors will appreciate its witty nod to the perils of polite society on the rails!

About the Artist

Honoré Daumier|Aaron Martinet|Destouches · 1810–1879

Honoré-Victorin Daumier (1808-1879) was a prolific French printmaker, caricaturist, painter, and sculptor whose works offered incisive commentary on the social and political life of 19th-century France. Known as the 'Michelangelo of Caricature,' Daumier produced over 4,000 lithographs, 500 paintings, 1,000 drawings, and 100 sculptures during his lifetime. His biting political satire led to his imp...