Draagstoel met passagiere Possibly 1779 - 1786

Jan Brandes created this drawing of a 'Sedan chair with passenger' some time in the late 18th century. Brandes lived during a time of great social upheaval, including the decline of the Dutch East India Company, where he served as a clergyman, and the rise of revolutionary ideas questioning traditional hierarchies. Brandes' drawing depicts a mode of transportation that encapsulates the complex dynamics of power and privilege. The sedan chair itself is a symbol of wealth and status, allowing the passenger to be physically elevated above those on foot, shielded from the elements and the gaze of the common person. But the chair is dependent on the physical labor of those who carry it. The identity of the passenger remains obscured, inviting us to imagine the stories of those who were carried, and those who did the carrying. Consider the emotional experience of those involved – the vulnerability of the passenger, the physical burden and limited agency of the carriers. Brandes prompts us to reflect on the human cost of convenience and luxury.