Question

The three panels in the following figure depict different modes of transporting cotton. Notice the bullocks collapsing under the weight of the cotton, the boulders on the road, and the huge pile of bales on the boat. What is the artist suggesting through these images?

Answer 1

1. The three panels show that transporting cotton was difficult and tiring.
2. The bullocks are shown struggling under the heavy weight of cotton.
3. The roads appear rough and full of large stones, which made transportation even harder.
4. The huge pile of cotton bales suggests that large quantities of cotton had to be moved over long distances.
5. The artist is showing the hard work and suffering involved in carrying cotton from one place to another.
6. The images also suggest that the cotton trade depended greatly on animal labour and difficult road transport.
7. Overall, the artist presents cotton transportation as a slow, heavy and challenging process.