Twee karren met vier wielen c. 1855 - 1859

This pencil sketch by Jozef Israëls, held at the Rijksmuseum, presents us with two four-wheeled carts, simple vehicles of labor and transport. The cart, in its essence, is a vessel, a carrier of burdens and goods. It evokes images of migration, trade, and the movement of people. Think of the chariots of ancient civilizations, symbols of power and conquest, or the humble wagons of nomadic tribes, carrying all that they own. The wheel, the cart’s defining feature, speaks to the ingenuity of humankind, our desire to traverse distances, and our relentless march toward progress. Yet, there’s also a deeper, more primal symbolism at play. The cart can be seen as a metaphor for life’s journey itself. We are each, in a sense, pulling our own cart, laden with experiences, memories, and the weight of our existence. The cyclical nature of the wheels represents the endless repetition of days, the seasons, and the eternal return of life's challenges. These images resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings through time.