Vier encyclopedische voorstellingen 1765 - 1806

These ‘Vier encyclopedische voorstellingen’ were etched by Johann David Schleuen, sometime in the 18th century. The print gives us a glimpse into the social and cultural values of the Enlightenment. Split into four scenes, the artwork depicts different facets of life, reflecting the era’s fascination with categorizing and understanding the world. Each scene offers a tableau of societal norms and expectations. From the administration of justice to domestic scenes of family life, and interactions between men and women in the kitchen, we see a world rigidly divided by gender and class. The most violent of the panels depicts armed men on horseback attacking a wagon, reminding us of the political and social unrest that existed alongside the Enlightenment ideals of reason and order. These scenes, viewed together, give us insight into the complex and often contradictory values that shaped 18th-century European society, and how individuals navigated their roles within it.