Anton slaat Matthes met zijn stok 1786

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki made this etching, “Anton Slaat Matthes met zijn Stok,” sometime in the late eighteenth century. It shows a scene of domestic violence in which one man raises a stick to strike another. Produced in Germany during the Enlightenment, this small print reflects the era's obsession with reason, morality, and social order. Chodowiecki’s choice of a common domestic setting suggests a desire to scrutinize everyday life through the lens of Enlightenment values. The act of violence depicted here stands in stark contrast to the ideals of rational behavior and social harmony that Enlightenment thinkers promoted. This image could be interpreted as a commentary on the gap between the aspirations of the Enlightenment and the realities of human behavior, using satire to challenge the norms of its time. To understand this image more fully, one could consult historical texts, conduct comparative studies of similar artworks, and delve into the artist's biography. The meaning of this image is contingent on its social and institutional context.