Koeien takelen water uit een put 1860 - 1900

This photograph by J. André Garrigues captures cows drawing water from a well. It's not just a record of a scene, but an artifact of its own making, capturing a moment of daily labor. The sepia tones are not just aesthetic; they're the chemical signature of the developing process, where light-sensitive materials react to create an image. Notice how the photograph’s details offer insights into the physical process. The oxen's harnesses, the strain on their bodies, the rough-hewn well structure – all tell a story of manual effort. The labor involved in creating this image parallels the labor it depicts. In a world increasingly dominated by industrial processes, this photograph reminds us of a time when human and animal labor were intimately intertwined with survival. It challenges us to think about the cost of progress, and the value of simpler ways of life.