Zegeteken van Johann von Labes 1770

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki made this print, "Zegeteken van Johann von Labes," but its date is not known. Here we see an image of a monument to Johann von Labes set within a classical architectural frame. This elaborate setting is full of social meaning. The monument shows Labes as a pioneering figure, and the surrounding scene of rural labor suggests his contribution to agriculture. The classical architecture suggests an institutional setting, perhaps a government building, underscoring the idea that von Labes’ contribution was an important one to society at large. Chodowiecki was a significant figure in the Berlin art scene, which makes the Prussian context important to understanding this print. Was the image commissioned by a state institution, or a wealthy patron? Perhaps research into the archives of the Berlin Academy of Arts could offer further insights, but ultimately, the meaning of the artwork is contingent on its social and institutional context.