Hooikar met ossengespan en een aandrijver staand op de kar c. 1880 - 1910

Antoine Sevruguin made this photograph of an oxcart piled high with hay in Persia, now Iran, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. Sevruguin was one of the most prolific commercial photographers in Persia at the time. His studio produced images for tourists and for diplomatic clients eager to record images of Persia. This photograph offers a glimpse into the agricultural economy of the region. The hay, likely destined for animal fodder or construction, suggests a rural setting, while the presence of the driver and the ox team point to a system of labor that relies on both human and animal power. We see other workers in the background. The photograph presents a view of Persia as a land of traditional practices. To better understand the scene, we might consult agricultural records of the period, travelers' accounts, and studies of labor practices. The photograph itself is a product of a specific social and economic context.