Man op een ossekar 1784 - 1848

Otto Baron Howen created this diminutive etching, “Man on an Ox Cart,” using black ink on paper. The composition centers on a man seated high on a simple, two-wheeled cart pulled by an ox, all depicted with precise, delicate lines. Howen masterfully uses line to define form and texture, creating a visual language that speaks to the socio-economic realities of his time. The texture of the ox's fur and the roughness of the cart are rendered with meticulous detail, emphasizing the materiality and the labor involved. The stark contrast between the ox and the man highlights a hierarchical relationship, reflecting broader societal structures of labor and class. This etching invites us to consider how such seemingly simple scenes can be laden with deeper meanings, revealing much about the cultural values and power dynamics embedded within 18th and 19th-century life. The artwork challenges us to decode the symbols, prompting an ongoing dialogue about its meaning within evolving social contexts.