Shanghai traffic on the bunt before 1908

This photograph captures Shanghai traffic, and was taken by Geldolph Adriaan Kessler. Note the rickshaws, a primary symbol here. These conveyances speak volumes about human power and social hierarchy. The rickshaw is not merely a vehicle; it echoes the ancient motif of human-driven carts found in various cultures. Think of Egyptian pharaohs carried on litters. The stark contrast between the puller and the passenger is unavoidable. The photograph unveils a psychological drama of labor and leisure, a relationship laden with historical and cultural weight. Consider how such images have persisted, transformed, and been re-contextualized across time. It is a dance of power and submission, one that continues to fascinate and unsettle.