Artwork

Invasion es wagons un jour ou l'on fait partir

Invasion es wagons un jour ou l'on fait partir, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1852
Invasion es wagons un jour ou l'on fait partir, by Honoré Daumier, ink, 1852

Invasion es wagons un jour ou l'on fait partir is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Honoré Daumier. It dates from 1852 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

The painting shows a crowded train station with people rushing to catch a train.
The scene is chaotic, with exaggerated figures in old-fashioned clothes. This lithograph is interesting because it gives us a glimpse of what life was like in the 19th century, with people traveling by train.
You can learn more about this style of art by looking into the technique of lithography.

Overview

Invasion es wagons un jour ou l'on fait partir is a lithograph by Honoré Daumier, capturing a frenetic 19th-century train station scene.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a chaotic train station with exaggerated, vintage-clad figures rushing to board, conveying the urgency and energy of the moment.

Technique & Style

Daumier employed lithography to create expressive, caricatured figures, characteristic of his style, within a dynamically composed scene.

Context

The work offers a glimpse into 19th-century life, highlighting the era's transportation and attire, with lithography itself being a notable printmaking technique of the time.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Honoré Daumier

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.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.