Wie zou 't niet gaarne mogen lijden, / Om tot vermaak eens uit te rijden? / Het rijden is een goede zaak, / En schenkt ons dikwijls groot vermaak 1832 - 1850

This print, made by Theodorus Johannes Wijnhoven-Hendriksen, presents us with a world neatly ordered into a grid of four scenes. Each vignette depicts a different horse-drawn carriage, yet the limited palette of red, white, and blue unifies the composition. These colors, sharply delineated, create a sense of graphic clarity. The lines are precise, almost mechanical, suggesting a world seen through the lens of rationality. The structure encourages a reading that is both sequential and comparative. The carriages, each slightly different, invite us to ponder the nuances of design and social status. Is this a celebration of progress, or a subtle commentary on the emerging class divisions of a rapidly modernizing society? Consider how the act of repeating the same motifs might subtly undermine the uniqueness of each scene, hinting at a deeper, more structural critique of societal norms and expectations.