Paard met slee 1803

Paulus Charles Gerard Poelman created this etching of a horse with a sleigh some time before 1846. It depicts a horse pulling a simple wooden sleigh with a figure seated inside. Poelman lived through a period of significant social and political change in Europe, including the Napoleonic Wars and subsequent shifts in power dynamics. During this time the horse played a crucial role in transportation, agriculture and warfare. It reflects the relationship between humans and animals, as well as the social hierarchies in which animals were often used for labor and status. Consider the representation of labor and leisure within the image. The horse is actively working, pulling the sleigh, while the figure inside is in a more passive position. This contrast invites reflection on class, labor, and the different experiences of those involved. The artwork serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of society and the various roles people and animals play within it.