Zes span paarden voor een hoog opgeladen vrachtwagen 1773 - 1843

Georges Michel sketched this image of six horses pulling a heavily laden wagon, likely in the late 18th or early 19th century. The dominant visual symbol here is the collective effort to move forward against the weight of cargo, a theme that resonates across centuries. Consider how this image echoes the ancient Roman depictions of triumphal processions, where teams of animals pulled carts laden with spoils of war, celebrating victory and dominion. Yet, here, there is no clear victory, just labor. This motif of collective effort reappears in socialist realist art, glorifying the worker's contribution to society's progress. But it is more than just physical labor that is being portrayed here: it is the psychological weight of communal responsibility and the silent, subconscious drive to carry one's burden. The image invites us to reflect on how these symbols have evolved, carrying different emotional and cultural meanings, as they resurface in our collective memory.