Illustration for "Wedding Proposals": The Butcher 1781

Curator: This is Daniel Chodowiecki's engraving, an illustration titled "The Butcher" for a series called "Wedding Proposals." It’s diminutive, only about 8 by 5 centimeters. Editor: There’s an awkward sort of tenderness to it, isn't there? Like a scene caught off guard. Curator: Absolutely. The dog in the background seems to reflect that sentiment, unsure if it should celebrate or run away. Editor: What I find striking is the butcher's attire—the tools, the meat hanging behind him. It's a very visceral proposal indeed! A promise of provision, perhaps? Curator: It’s a rather blunt proposal, no doubt. The imagery is grounded, connected to the very basis of survival and sustenance. Editor: One wonders what she made of it all. Though really, isn't every proposal a negotiation of power and provisions in some way? Curator: Precisely, and Chodowiecki captures it with a wry, knowing humor. A slice of life served up with a side of social commentary. Editor: A miniature drama with implications that resonate even now, wouldn’t you say?