Pre-automotive Design: The Horse and Carriage Prints of Louis Vallet

June 2 - September 24, 2016 - This exhibition, comprised entirely of prints by 19th-century French artist Louis Vallet, examines the development of one such vehicle, the carriage, from 1400 to 1895, before it was replaced by the automobile in 1896. Though many would proclaim automotive design a novelty of the 20th century, the story of human transportation is far older than the infamous Model-T. Indeed, the way in which humans travel has been ever evolving since the invention of the first wheel around 3,500 BCE. Over time, the wheel was perfected, and what was once Bronze Age technology morphed into a sophisticated vehicle-like form. Initially designed for the purposes of war and work, the function of these vehicles later shifted, becoming a commodity focused on leisure and convenience.