Galopperende ruiter 1778

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki created this etching called 'Galopperende ruiter', or 'Galloping Rider', sometime during his career in the late 18th century. Chodowiecki lived through the Enlightenment, and was known for his detailed, small-scale depictions of everyday life and social scenes. Here, we see a rider cracking a whip, while dogs, a cow, and a cat scatter in all directions. A figure leans out of a window to observe the commotion. The image may appear to simply depict a chaotic scene of rural life, but the underlying class dynamics are hard to ignore. The rider, presumably of higher social standing, wields his power over both animals and people. Chodowiecki's works often invite us to reflect on how power is enacted and experienced in society. What does it feel like to be the observed, or the dominated? This etching encourages us to consider the ways in which social hierarchies shape our interactions and perceptions.