Paard en wagen op een landweg before 1899

This mounted photograph is entitled ‘Paard en wagen op een landweg’, or ‘Horse and cart on a country road’, and was created by Alexis Mazourine. It was part of an exhibition for artistic photography in Berlin in 1899. This image enters a dialogue concerning class and labor. The worker trudges forward, head down, in what appears to be a desolate landscape with their horse. In the late 1890s, Berlin was undergoing rapid industrialization, leading to increased social inequalities. Mazourine's photograph captures a glimpse into the lives of the working class, who were often marginalized and overlooked in the face of economic progress. The image evokes a sense of empathy for the struggles of ordinary people amidst a changing society. The horse and cart, recurring themes of the late 19th century, here embody the lives of individuals, highlighting their journey and the societal forces shaping their destinies.