Four Passenger Farm Wagon c. 1936

Fred Weiss made this "Four Passenger Farm Wagon" using graphite and watercolor on paper. Weiss's life spanned the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period defined by rapid industrialization. Consider this wagon in the context of that era. It represents a moment when rural and agrarian life was confronted by urban and industrial expansion. This wagon, designed for communal travel, evokes a sense of shared experience and labor. The very idea of a 'farm wagon' speaks to the centrality of agriculture in the social and economic life of the time. Looking at the wagon now, we can reflect on how technological advancements shape our relationships to each other and to the land, and to the values we inherit and pass on. This deceptively simple image offers a window into a world undergoing profound transformation.