The Strawberry Roans 

Constantin Guys made this pen and brown wash drawing on paper of "The Strawberry Roans" during the mid-19th century. Guys, working as a war correspondent and artist for the Illustrated London News, captured fleeting moments of urban life, particularly in cities like London and Paris. This work depicts a horse-drawn carriage, a common sight among the elite. But, if we look closer, it’s also a portrait of labor and class. The coachmen, perched high, navigate the bustling streets, while the horses embody harnessed power. What do you imagine for the carriage's passengers? Perhaps they are wealthy individuals shielded from the grit and grime of the city. Guys offers us a glimpse into the social hierarchy of the era, where mobility and status were intertwined. His sketches go beyond mere documentation, inviting us to consider the complex relationships between people, animals, and the spaces they inhabit.