Start van de race Parijs-Amsterdam voor automobielen Possibly 1898

This photograph by Delizy captures the start of the Paris-Amsterdam automobile race. The automobile emerges as a potent symbol, not merely of transportation, but of progress and the relentless march of time. The automobile's symbolism echoes the chariot of antiquity, a motif of power and triumph. Consider the Roman chariot races, frenzied displays of human ambition, and the steeds of Apollo guiding the sun across the sky. Here, the automobile assumes the role of the sun chariot, propelling its drivers toward a new era of speed and technology. But it's not just about the future; it’s also about the past echoing into the present. The dust kicked up by the car’s wheels obscures our vision, while the bystanders look on, connecting us to the past. Like the Greek chorus, the crowd marks the cyclical nature of human endeavour and the persistence of collective memory. What psychological impact has technology had on our imagination? How has this affected our perception of time, progress, and our own mortality?