Landschap met een trekpaard met een hooiwagen 1864 - 1867

Johannes Tavenraat made this drawing of a landscape with a horse-drawn hay wagon with pen in the early 19th century. The horse, burdened by the hay-wagon, stands as a stoic figure of labor, reminiscent of classical allegories of burden and perseverance. Consider how this echoes in ancient depictions of Atlas, forever carrying the celestial sphere, or even Christ bearing the cross. There is a shift from divine or heroic burden to the everyday toil of rural life, yet the underlying motif of bearing weight remains potent. This motif resurfaces repeatedly, doesn't it? From medieval tapestries to Soviet-era monuments, where figures carry the weight of their nations' aspirations. It’s a powerful archetype, engaging us on a visceral level, perhaps tapping into our collective memory of struggle and endurance.