Two Illustrations for Samuel Richardson's 'Clarissa': "Clarissa's arrest as she leaves the church" and "Clarissa in prison" 1785

Editor: This is Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki's "Two Illustrations for Samuel Richardson's 'Clarissa': 'Clarissa's arrest as she leaves the church' and 'Clarissa in prison.'" It looks like a scene of injustice and confinement, with the fine lines creating a sense of unease. What strikes you most when you look at it? Curator: It’s as if Chodowiecki has bottled a novel's worth of drama in these tiny engravings. I am touched by the juxtaposition of public humiliation with private despair; the figures are rendered with such delicate cruelty. Can you imagine the weight of societal expectations during that time? Editor: I can't. The story seems incredibly moving. It makes me wonder, how did people react to these images back then? Curator: Probably with the same mix of fascination and horror we feel today, perhaps even more so because it reflected their social realities. I like to imagine people gathering around these prints, discussing the characters' fates with passionate opinions. Editor: That's beautiful. It gives a new perspective to the work.