The Occupations of Women: Singing 1780

Curator: Here we have Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki's engraving, "The Occupations of Women: Singing." Editor: There's something brittle about this domestic scene, almost like a forced performance. Curator: Chodowiecki, working in the 18th century, often explored social roles. This piece critiques the limited sphere women occupied, reduced to accomplishments like singing. Editor: The harpsichord itself seems to be at the center, doesn't it? The wood grain, the keyboard—it dominates the space, a manufactured object dictating their roles. Curator: Precisely. The woman's elaborate dress and hairstyle, juxtaposed with the man's direct interaction with the music, highlight the performative aspect of gender in this era. What looks like leisure is work. Editor: And the fine lines of the engraving itself, the way it captures light and shadow...it all speaks to the labor involved in creating both the image and this idealized domesticity. Curator: Absolutely. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the expectations placed upon women and the societal structures that confined them. Editor: It makes you think about what has changed since the 18th century and what hasn't.