Pferdefuhrwerk und Menschen auf der Straße c. 1791 - 1803

Franz Pforr made this drawing of a horse-drawn carriage and people on the street with pen and ink sometime before his death in 1812. The drawing invites us to consider the social stratification of early 19th-century Germany. Here we see a rudimentary horse and carriage, most likely being driven by members of the working class. The whip suggests a sense of urgency and the subservient position of the driver, controlled by the passengers inside the carriage. The clothing of the people depicted also reveals information about their status, wealth and social standing. Pforr’s attention to detail can tell us a great deal about the rapidly changing political landscape of the time. To fully understand Pforr’s drawing, we need to investigate the social and economic structures of early 19th-century Germany. By exploring archival documents, personal letters, and other historical sources, we can gain a deeper understanding of the drawing’s historical context and its relationship to the broader social and political landscape of the time.