Paard en wagen 1782 - 1837

Pieter Bartholomeusz Barbiers made this drawing, Paard en wagen, using graphite and perhaps a bit of wash. The simple graphite lines belie the complex labor relations that such a rural scene implies. Here, a horse and cart likely represent agricultural work in the Netherlands. In the foreground, Barbiers uses the graphite to give weight and texture to the horse, contrasting with the relatively light hatching of the background, where a seated figure in a dress, seemingly watching over the scene, rests. The contrast between the dark, carefully rendered horse and the lighter elements suggests a visual hierarchy, perhaps reflecting the social hierarchy inherent in labor practices. This drawing encapsulates the interplay of human effort and the natural world in an agrarian setting. By focusing on the materials and modes of production depicted, we can begin to unpack wider social issues of labor, class, and the relationship between humans and animals in the landscape.