Rijtuigen c. 1822 - 1849

This print, made by Jan de Lange II, presents an array of horse-drawn carriages, each a symbol of status and function in 19th-century Dutch society. The horse, yoked to human ambition, pulls these vehicles forward, a motif echoing back to antiquity. Consider the chariot of Roman emperors, or even earlier, the war chariots of ancient Egypt; these images speak to power, progress, and control over the natural world. But the carriage is not merely a means of transport; it is a vessel of social standing. Each type of carriage tells a story of its owner’s wealth, occupation, and even aspirations. Like the steeds pulling Apollo's chariot across the heavens, these horses and carriages trigger a primal human fascination with movement, power, and the harnessing of nature. This print thus invites us to reflect on the cyclical dance between humanity and its symbols of progress, each evolution echoing a deep-seated desire to master our environment.