Gotthard en Alexander op jacht en Mine en Benjamin bij het graf van hun moeder 1779

This etching by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, created in 1779, depicts two scenes from the novel "The Sorrows of Young Werther" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The left panel shows Gotthard and Alexander hunting, while the right panel portrays the young Werther's lover, Charlotte, and her brother Benjamin at the grave of their mother. The engraving captures the poignant atmosphere and melancholic mood of Goethe's famous novel, which explores themes of love, loss, and the power of nature. The scene with the hunting party illustrates Werther's love for nature, while the scene of the grave symbolizes the tragic loss that haunts him. Chodowiecki's meticulous detail and realistic style are evident in the depiction of the figures and the landscapes. This artwork is a fine example of 18th-century printmaking and its role in illustrating literary masterpieces.