Paardenkar op een militaire weg door de bergen van Georgië c. 1890 - 1900

Dimitri Ivanovitch Ermakov captured this photograph of a horse-drawn cart on a military road through the mountains of Georgia. Ermakov was a photographer and ethnographer, and his work provides insights into the culture, landscape, and peoples of the Caucasus during a period of Russian imperial expansion. This image speaks to the complex interplay of power, identity, and representation inherent in such a historical context. The road itself, carved into the landscape, symbolizes the imposition of Russian power and infrastructure onto the Georgian territory. We see a small horse-drawn cart making its way along this imposing road. It creates a powerful contrast between the vastness of the landscape and the smallness of human presence. The photograph invites us to reflect on the experiences of the local population, their resilience, and adaptation in the face of political and cultural change. Ermakov's photograph captures a moment in time, laden with historical and social implications.