Design for Dog Cart (French?) 1875 - 1885

This undated drawing portrays a design for a dog cart, possibly French, rendered anonymously on paper. The most striking visual element is, of course, the wheel. The wheel, a seemingly simple invention, carries profound cultural weight. Throughout history, the wheel has symbolized progress, movement, and the cyclical nature of time. Its circular form echoes ancient mandalas and cosmological diagrams, representing wholeness and the perpetual flow of existence. We can look to the swastika, an ancient symbol used in various cultures, notably in India, long before its appropriation. The swastika, derived from the Sanskrit word "svastika," signifies well-being, good fortune, and auspiciousness. As an image, it evokes movement, life, and the constant turning of the cosmos. Over time, this symbol’s meaning and emotional charge shifted drastically, revealing how symbols are susceptible to radical reinterpretation. The wheel’s emotional impact lies in its suggestion of potential. It invites us to consider the journeys we undertake and the ever-turning cycle of life, forever moving forward, driven by forces seen and unseen. This image is a reminder that symbols are not static, but rather evolve as they traverse history.