Man wordt koets in getild 1873

Alexander Ver Huell made this etching, "Man wordt koets in getild", meaning "Man being lifted into a carriage" sometime in the 19th century. Ver Huell lived through a time of significant social change in the Netherlands, influenced by broader European political and cultural movements. The print depicts a scene of assistance, maybe rescue, yet it can also be viewed through the lens of class and dependency. The man being lifted seems vulnerable, dependent on the help of others, which prompts questions about the power dynamics at play. How might his social status or physical condition affect his agency? The figures assisting him might be construed as Samaritans. Yet, they also might be seen as figures exercising control. This image resonates emotionally by prompting us to consider our own relationships with dependency, the nuances of offering and accepting help, and the subtle ways in which power operates in our daily interactions. Does it normalize or challenge societal norms?