Twee scènes uit Gellert's Fabelen 1776

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki made this print, titled *Two Scenes from Gellert's Fables,* in the late 18th century. The image is a window into the social hierarchies of the time, reflecting on power dynamics and the role of institutions in shaping individual lives. Chodowiecki uses visual codes to convey social commentary. On the left we see the poor and the tax man, and on the right the rich and powerful. The print's creation in late 18th-century Germany is significant. It's a period marked by Enlightenment ideals clashing with rigid social structures. The fables themselves, by Christian Fürchtegott Gellert, were popular for their moral lessons, often critiquing the status quo. Chodowiecki, through his art, participates in this critique, questioning the institutions and norms of his society. To fully understand this print, we can look into the history of fables as a literary form and also study 18th-century German social structures. Art, in this context, becomes a tool for social commentary, reflecting and challenging the norms of its time.