Lodewijk XVI treedt gedwongen af als koning van Frankrijk 1790

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki created this print, "Lodewijk XVI treedt gedwongen af als koning van Frankrijk" (Louis XVI Forced to Abdicate as King of France), sometime before his death in 1801. In this small yet impactful print, the eye is immediately drawn to the stark contrast between the crowded assembly and the individual figures. Chodowiecki uses a meticulous network of fine lines to construct the scene, creating a textured surface that animates the composition. The figures are carefully delineated, yet they merge into a collective, highlighting the tension between individual agency and collective will. The architecture, with its rigid lines, functions as a framework for the human drama unfolding. These visual elements come together to destabilize the traditional image of monarchy, presenting it instead as subject to the gaze and judgment of the people. The print thus uses its formal qualities to question established power structures and engage with the revolutionary ideals of its time.