Paardenkar c. 1902 - 1914

This drawing, "Paardenkar," was sketched by George Hendrik Breitner with chalk. The composition is anchored by the motif of the horse-drawn cart, a conveyance laden with cultural significance. From antiquity, carts have symbolized not only transportation but also labor, trade, and societal progress. Consider the ancient Roman chariot, a symbol of triumph and power, or the humble ox-drawn cart, representing agrarian life. Here, the cart takes on a different emotional tone. This sketch evokes a sense of melancholy, almost as if the weight of history and human toil bears down upon the scene. The roughly hewn lines and stark contrast only heighten the sense of somber introspection. The horse-drawn cart's journey is far from linear; instead, it's cyclical, echoing through the annals of time.