Artwork
Et ... Voila ...Les voyageurs qui nous passent devant le nez!
Et ... Voila ...Les voyageurs qui nous passent devant le nez! is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1843 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Honoré Daumier’s 1843 lithograph titled “Et … Voila … Les voyageurs qui nous passent devant le nez!” presents three formally attired figures positioned side‑by‑side before a moving steam locomotive. The composition juxtaposes the dignified clothing of the subjects with exaggerated facial and bodily traits, creating a lively scene that captures a fleeting moment of travel.
Subject & Meaning
The three travelers appear to belong to a respectable social stratum, yet Daumier renders their features in a caricatural manner. This contrast serves as a subtle critique of the pretensions and affectations of the bourgeois class, suggesting that outward propriety masks underlying absurdities.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the work relies on the medium’s capacity for fine line work and tonal variation. Daumier’s use of bold outlines and exaggerated proportions aligns with his broader satirical style, while the inclusion of a steam train underscores the modern, industrial backdrop of mid‑19th‑century France.
Context
Created during a period of rapid railway expansion in France, the print reflects contemporary fascination with new modes of transportation. Daumier, known for his social commentary, employed the popular print medium to reach a wide audience, commenting on both the changing landscape and the social customs of his time.
Artist & collection
Artist
Honoré-Victorin Daumier was a French painter, sculptor, and printmaker, whose many works offer commentary on the social and political life in France, from the Revolution of 1830 to the fall of the Second French Empire in 1870.
