Man op een paardenslee in Rusland 1903 - 1904

Joseph Cheetham created this photograph titled "Man on a horse-drawn sleigh in Russia," and it's currently held in the Rijksmuseum. In this image, we see a man standing next to a horse-drawn sleigh amidst a snowy Russian landscape. The scene evokes the quiet harshness of rural life. We might consider the social and economic circumstances that shaped the lives of those who relied on such modes of transport. How did factors like class and geographic location determine an individual's daily experiences in Russia at that time? Consider the labor involved in maintaining this way of life. We can reflect on the relationships between humans, animals, and the environment. Whose stories are often left out of mainstream historical narratives? How can we approach images like this to uncover more inclusive accounts of the past? In viewing this photograph, we are invited to contemplate both the intimate and grand scales of human existence.