Illustration til bevæggrunde til giftermål og deres følger (Häusliche Glückseligkeit Felicité domestique) 1788

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki created this illustration on paper using etching, likely in the late 18th century in Germany. It speaks to contemporary ideas about domesticity and family life. The image presents a scene of apparent domestic bliss: a mother sits with a baby in her arms, while other children play around her. The father playfully lifts another child into the air. The title, ‘Häusliche Glückseligkeit,’ translates to ‘domestic happiness.’ This image presents an idealized version of family life that reflects the social values of the time. In 18th-century Europe, the family was seen as the cornerstone of society. The etching suggests the importance of marriage and procreation for social stability. But It's worth asking, whose happiness is being depicted, and at what cost? To understand this image fully, we would want to research the artist’s other works and the social context in which he was producing them. We can consult historical documents, literature, and other visual sources to gain deeper insights into the ideologies that shaped this image.