Hondenkar c. 1856 - 1861

Cornelis Springer made this pencil drawing of a dog cart. It's a simple drawing on paper, and it shows us the bare bones of the object. The dog cart itself speaks volumes about labor and class. These carts were common in the 19th century, used to transport goods or people, and powered by dogs. Think about the lives of these animals, reduced to beasts of burden. The drawing captures not just a mode of transport, but a glimpse into the lives of working animals. Springer's quick, light strokes don’t offer much detail, but they give the essence of the cart. The simplicity of the drawing—pencil on paper—contrasts with the labor-intensive reality of the dog cart itself, a reminder of the social inequalities that were literally built into the streets of the 19th-century city. It's a powerful reminder that even the simplest materials and processes can reveal complex social realities.