Karel de Dikke wordt afgezet 1792

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki created this print, Karel de Dikke wordt afgezet, in the late 18th century using etching. It depicts the deposition of Charles the Fat, a 9th-century Holy Roman Emperor. During Chodowiecki’s time, the Enlightenment was prompting new perspectives on history and power. Consider the emotional weight of this scene: a corpulent ruler being stripped of his crown. The print subtly critiques the concept of divine right, reflecting the era’s questioning of inherited power. Gender and class are not explicit here, yet they underpin the narrative of leadership and authority. "Karel de Dikke wordt afgezet" subtly participates in a broader discussion about who should lead and how. Chodowiecki invites us to reflect on the transient nature of power, and the personal cost of leadership. How does this historical deposition resonate with contemporary questions about leadership and authority?