Late rust 1779

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki made this print, called 'Late Rust', using etching techniques. The image shows a domestic interior. A woman cowers against the wall while a man gestures towards the window. This kind of genre scene was very popular in the late 18th century, especially in countries like Germany where Chodowiecki was working. The interest was in conveying moral messages through scenes of everyday life. We can see a clear social commentary in the body language of the figures. The woman looks defeated while the man seems to be accusing her of something, or perhaps warning her about something outside. Details such as the barred window and the simple furnishings tell us that this is a scene of confinement and social constraint. The meaning of this print isn't fixed. By digging into the historical context we can discover what the artist might have been trying to communicate about the social issues of his time.