Begroeting bij binnenkomst 1778

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki created this small engraving, titled 'Begroeting bij binnenkomst', sometime in the 18th century. Chodowiecki was a German-Polish artist, who became director of the Berlin Academy of Arts and is remembered for his etchings. The work depicts an intimate moment of social interaction. We see a man, hat in hand, bowing deeply before a woman in elaborate dress, her face partially obscured. The scene feels deeply staged, caught up as it is in the rituals of gendered performance. The man’s exaggerated bow speaks to the power dynamics at play, even as the woman's dress speaks to her elevated position. Chodowiecki lived in a time of great social change, on the cusp of revolution, and his works often reflect the nuanced codes of conduct that governed 18th-century society. 'Begroeting bij binnenkomst' is interesting in how it captures the intersection of social grace, gender roles, and the subtle theatre of everyday life.