Six Great Events of 1780-1790 1791

Curator: What a piece! Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki’s "Six Great Events of 1780-1790," done as an engraving in 1791. It's like a snapshot of a turbulent decade, all crammed into one sheet. Editor: It does feel rather...compressed. At first glance, it gives me the impression of peering into multiple worlds, like little windows into different stories all unfolding at once. A little chaotic, if I'm honest. Curator: Chaos, maybe, but purposeful chaos. Chodowiecki, a major figure in the Berlin Enlightenment, was really invested in depicting morality and contemporary events for public consumption. This print encapsulates a key decade of social and political shifts. Each vignette represents a significant event. Editor: I see that. Is that meant to be Frederick the Great’s fall depicted there, centrally? And the imagery seems to vacillate between the earthly and the allegorical... Curator: Exactly. You've got "The Fall of Frederick of Zompen," referencing a scandal, right beside a depiction of the League of Princes, a powerful alliance. He juggles the real and the symbolic beautifully. And it all ties back to neoclassicism with that love of line and the desire to elevate and educate. Editor: Yes, the linearity is striking, almost clinical. But beneath that precision, there's an undercurrent of, I don’t know, perhaps veiled criticism? A questioning of authority disguised as reportage? Curator: Interesting read! Given his dedication to Enlightenment ideals, he certainly uses the engraving for critical commentary. It speaks volumes that the "Six Great Events" encapsulates successes with social failures. Also, keep in mind that the French Revolution casts a shadow here, its presence as one of the great events is rather… ambiguous. Editor: Precisely! So, in this intricate dance of light and shadow, Chodowiecki not only captures an era but seems to invite us to question its narrative. Thank you. Curator: Thanks to you, indeed! An image meant for thoughtful examination and public conversation, then, and hopefully now as well!