Barnet (Das Kind) 1791

"Barnet (Das Kind)" is an etching by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki from 1791, now housed in the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst. This small work depicts a mother seated in a chair, cradling her sleeping baby. A skeletal figure with wings, representing Death, hovers over them, its bony hand reaching towards the child. The piece is a poignant commentary on mortality and the precariousness of life, suggesting that Death is always present, even in the most innocent moments. Chodowiecki’s meticulous detail and masterful use of light and shadow emphasize the contrast between the fragility of life and the inevitability of death, creating a powerful and haunting image.