Five men riding in a carriage drawn by four horses c. 1890 - 1920

Edward Penfield created this image of five men riding in a four-horse carriage. The presence of horses as a symbol of virility and power is unmistakable. The figures in the carriage exude a confident demeanor, enhanced by their clothing and the accoutrements of their trade. Consider the baton or riding crop held by the man in the front seat. This symbol has origins tracing back to ancient scepters, emblems of authority and control. Think of how these batons appear in portraits of emperors, generals, and even religious figures throughout history. The riding crop, seemingly benign, carries echoes of these earlier symbols of command. The arrangement evokes a sense of hierarchy, a powerful psychological element that taps into our collective understanding of social structures. Such symbols engage viewers on a subconscious level, stirring emotions tied to power, status, and control. The reappearance of the scepter in various forms throughout history is not merely coincidental. It is a cyclical return of deeply embedded cultural and psychological themes, reshaped and reinterpreted in each era.