Berusting staande onder het oog van god 1785

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki created this tiny engraving, "Berusting staande onder het oog van god," using the precise and laborious technique of etching. The image is brought to life through a network of finely incised lines. Look closely, and you can see how the varying density and direction of these lines create subtle tonal gradations. The engraver's hand coaxes form out of the flat surface, giving shape to the figure and texture to the landscape. But beyond its aesthetic qualities, the print speaks to the broader social context of its time. The proliferation of printed images in the 18th century was intimately tied to the rise of a commercial market, and Chodowiecki was a prolific producer of such images. Prints like this one were not unique works of art, but rather commodities produced for a growing consumer culture. Understanding its making, and its place in the world, is crucial to understanding the full meaning of Chodowiecki's work.