Yoke of oxen 

Johann Nepomuk Rauch sketched “Yoke of Oxen,” while working in a world undergoing massive transformations due to industrialization. Here, Rauch captures a traditional farming scene, a way of life that was quickly disappearing. Look closely, and you will see the strain and burden carried by both the animals and the man driving them. The weight of labor is palpable, raising questions about exploitation and the social hierarchy that places some in positions of servitude. These oxen are not just beasts of burden; they are also symbols of a slower, agrarian past. Rauch's work is not overtly political, but it offers a poignant commentary on the changing social landscape. It is difficult to look at this drawing and not feel a sense of empathy for these figures caught in a cycle of labor. Rauch invites us to reflect on the cost of progress and the lives impacted by it.