Gotthard en Alexander op jacht 1779

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki created this print, Gotthard en Alexander op jacht, with etching around the late 18th century in Germany. This genre scene depicts two men with guns, likely out hunting, while a mother and child look on. Hunting as a pastime was closely associated with the aristocracy, so the class status of the hunters may be implied. However, Chodowiecki was fascinated by the middle class and frequently portrayed their world. What are the clues that these figures are middle class or aristocratic? The location in the woods could be a nod to the changing tastes related to the enlightenment, when there was increasing appreciation for nature. To understand this image better, we can consult primary documents about German social life at the time. Prints like this one offer fascinating insights into the everyday lives and cultural values of the past, reminding us that art is always embedded in a specific social and institutional context.