The Omnibus

Curatorial Overview

“Horse-drawn omnibuses would have been a rarity during Wilcox’s trip to Paris from 1910 to 1911, which likely inspired this print. Newer modes of public transportation, such as tramways and motorized buses, were faster and better able to monitor which riders had paid for their fare: the man climbing to the second floor in this image may have easily jumped on for free. Wilcox also included people at work and leisure in the foreground, constructing a bustling vision of Paris on the cusp of the modern age.”