Vader leest voor bij kaarslicht 1800

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki created this etching titled ‘Father Reading by Candlelight’ some time in the late 18th century. It depicts an intimate domestic scene, with a father figure entertaining his family with a story read aloud. In this era of Enlightenment, literacy and education were increasingly valued, especially within the rising middle classes of Northern Europe. The print presents the family unit as a site for education and moral instruction. We can see how the composition emphasizes these values. Notice how the figures are gathered around a single candle, suggesting a shared pursuit of knowledge. The father's animated expression and gestures imply that reading is an act of performance and communication. It is not just a source of information but also of social bonding. Chodowiecki was a key figure in the Berlin Enlightenment, and his work often touched on the social issues of the day. Art historians looking at images like these ask to what extent they accurately represented social life, and how they were used to promote certain ideals.