figure de ce Monsieur ne me revient guère. - La tête de ce Voyageur ne m'inspire aucune confiance.
Title (alt.):
- I don't like the look of the gentleman at all! - The face of this gentleman doesn't inspire confidence.. Charivari
Description:
Travelling on the new trains became an ever increasing risk. Passengers were frequently mugged, a fact which greatly harmed the image of this new and popular means of transportation. In this print we see two passengers in a first class coach afraid of one another. EN CHEMIN DE FER, a series of 6 prints which appeared in the CHARIVARI between August and September 1864. Although LAMARTINE had tried to have the French railroad system nationalized, the Government decided in July 1838 to grant three railroad concessions for the lines Paris-Le Havre, Paris-Orléans, and Paris-Strasbourg. In 1839, some of the private railroad companies got into financial problems due to high construction costs. The government agreed to a guarantee for 40 years with an interest by the State of 4%. The Paris-Orléans line became a modern cooperative, where the stakes were divided between private and public shareholders. The train connection Paris-Orléans was built from 1837 to 1843. The speed of the trains was very moderate and the interior similar to horse carriages. Trains were not allowed to stop outside of train stations. Scientists of the period predicted serious brain damage of the passengers caused by the excessive speed of 25 km/h (15 miles per hour). The trains of this time offered three different classes: The "Coupé" (1st class) at 2 francs for the trip Paris - St. Germain, the "Diligence" or "Berline" (2nd class) at 1,50 francs, and the open-air "Wagon" (3rd class) at 1 franc. The 1st class was occupied only by 1% of the passengers. The lines between Paris and Orléans as well as Paris and Rouen were inaugurated on May 2 and 3, 1843.
Copyright restrictions may apply. For permission to copy or use this image, contact the Robert D. Farber University Archives and Special Collections Department, Brandeis University Libraries. The following credit line must be included with each item used: Benjamin A. and Julia M. Trustman Collection of Honoré Daumier Lithographs, Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University.
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Place of origin:
Paris
Notes:
3rd state.
Published in: Le Charivari, August 26, 1864.
Notes (acquisition):
Donated by: Benjamin A. and Julia M. Trustman, 1959.
