Who painted Grand train de plaisir?

Grand train de plaisir was painted by Honoré Daumier in 1864.

Where can I see Grand train de plaisir?

Grand train de plaisir is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Grand train de plaisir?

Grand train de plaisir is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Grand train de plaisir

Honoré Daumier , 1864

Grand train de plaisir is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Honoré Daumier’s 1864 lithograph *Grand train de plaisir* presents a bustling assembly of figures caught in a moment of collective astonishment. The print captures a lively tableau in which each individual reacts with pronounced facial gestures, creating a sense of shared excitement that animates the entire scene.

Subject & Meaning

The work focuses on a crowd caught in a sudden, shared experience, emphasizing how public emotion can ripple through a group. By exaggerating expressions, Daumier underscores the contagious nature of surprise, suggesting a commentary on the social dynamics of public gatherings in mid‑nineteenth‑century France.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the image relies on dense cross‑hatching to model forms and suggest depth. This line work produces textured shadows that convey movement and three‑dimensionality, while the sharp, caricature‑like contours of the faces heighten the dramatic intensity of the moment.

History & Provenance

Created in 1864, *Grand train de plaisir* belongs to Daumier’s prolific series of social prints that documented everyday life. The lithograph was produced during a period when the artist frequently employed the medium to reach a broad audience, distributing his observations through print shops and exhibitions across Paris.

Artist & collection

Artist

Honoré Daumier

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.