Five horses pulling a carriage with passengers 1820 - 1866

This delicate drawing of five horses pulling a carriage with passengers was made by Victor Adam in the 19th century, using graphite on paper. The artist's choice of graphite as a medium lends itself to the depiction of this means of transport. The hardness of the pencil and the controlled marks allow for the depiction of weight and mass, as well as fine details such as those that suggest the texture of the horses’ coats. The pencil drawing shows the vehicle as part of a complex network of labor and consumption. The figures on top of the carriage, the driver, and the horses are the instruments of this service. Notice the barrels and packages surrounding the carriage, indicating that the vehicle is likely involved in trade, and therefore commerce and capitalism. Through his careful attention to detail, Adam invites us to consider the social and economic significance of this everyday scene. It challenges traditional notions of what constitutes art, blurring the lines between fine art and craft, while capturing a moment in time.