Feind speelt schaak met Herr Less 1776

Editor: So, this print—"Feind spielt schaak met Herr Less" by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, from 1776—is currently held in the Rijksmuseum. It feels rather theatrical to me, almost staged, with that intense candlelight and those gathered figures. What story do you think it’s telling? Curator: Oh, this isn’t just any game of chess, is it? With those knowing glances and hidden meanings. I like to imagine the players aren’t just moving pieces across a board; they're shifting ideologies and testing social boundaries. And look at how Chodowiecki’s cross-hatching lends such gravitas. Does it suggest an evening fraught with tension or simply a display of intellectual gamesmanship? Editor: Gamesmanship definitely comes to mind! It's the 18th century, so could it also be about class or status? Curator: Indeed! Maybe they are playing a double game, veiled in the rules of chess but hinting at real-world power struggles. Consider, how does the physical closeness or distance between the characters at the board affect our reading? Editor: It’s as if their expressions are saying more than their moves. Curator: Precisely! Don’t you think Chodowiecki invites us into a secret world where everyday actions speak volumes? It’s like the artist is slyly saying, “Here’s how people really operate, concealed beneath polite surfaces.” The drama is really captivating. What would you call it? Narrative Baroque? Editor: That's very perceptive, combining history with personal stories in one game. Curator: That tension, you know, between appearance and what truly lies beneath. It gets me every time. Thanks for making me see it fresh.