Slapende vrouw 1759

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki made this etching called 'Slapende vrouw' or 'Sleeping Woman'. As an artist living in 18th century Berlin, Chodowiecki navigated a society of shifting class structures and emerging artistic styles. In this piece the viewer’s eye is immediately drawn to the woman’s exposed torso. The woman is asleep in a large bed, while a man sits beside her. The work’s style is reminiscent of Rembrandt. Chodowiecki, however, brings a different cultural lens to this depiction, influenced by the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and morality. Does the woman have agency? Or, is she subjected to the male gaze? The intimacy of the bedroom setting and the contrast between the sleeping woman and the watchful man invite questions about power dynamics. Chodowiecki, while emulating Rembrandt's style, infuses this etching with a contemporary sensibility, prompting viewers to contemplate the complex interplay of observation, desire, and social norms of his time.