Ambulanceslee 1916

This photograph, taken by Henri de Rothschild, captures a horse-drawn ambulance—or "ambulanceslee" as it's called—a vehicle designed for wintry conditions. I imagine Rothschild observing this sled-like contraption, thinking about how to capture its stillness, its sturdy construction in a way that also hints at the urgent purpose it serves. The greyscale gives it a documentary feel but there's a curious angle that makes you wonder what caught his eye. The texture of the wood and the ironwork are so tactile. It's as if he wanted you to feel the coldness of the metal, the weight of the history it carries, and the weight of the snow. You can see the traces of use, and the wear of the wheels. It reminds me that art, like these ambulanceslee, often exists to serve a purpose. It documents and remembers, and it creates new perspectives through which we see and feel.